Ypsilanti City Hall solar panels begin generating electricity

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 | Source: Concentrate

The meters are spinning in the right direction at Ypsilanti's City Hall now that the new solar panels on the south side of the building are generating electricity.

Local officials and volunteers who made the project happen flipped the switch last weekend. That not only turned on the 12 solar panels that adorn the downtown building, but concluded an ambitious grass roots project, Solar Ypsi, that continues to spread its roots throughout Ypsilanti.

The group, led by Dave Strenski, first thought of the project three years ago and began putting the wheels in motion shortly thereafter. Years of rallying support, raising money and a lucky break or two (landing a $36,000 state grant) allowed the dream to become reality. Strenski says persistence, motivation, the right attitude and more persistence made it possible.

"Basically, I just went through and said what do you need?" Strenski says. "Then I went and did it."

The group also had to navigate multiple learning curves. Strenski and his friends had to make persuasive cases to the city's officials, historic board, DTE and others to make the project become a reality.

"Everybody was learning how," Strenski says, adding that is not a knock against anyone but a natural progression. "DTE was learning. The electrician was learning. I was learning."

The solar panels are mounted on the the south roof of the Ypsilanti City Hall (corner of Michigan Avenue and South Huron Street).

Solar Ypsi also recently installed 12 solar panels on the Ypsilanti Food Co-op. It is now working to install 30 solar panels on the co-op's bakery.

The group has acquired the panels and is ready to buy the steel and begin mounting them this spring. Those panels are expected to be up and running by this summer. It's a project that will probably be a little bit easier because the group's persistence is now combined with momentum.

"All you need is persistence," Strenski says.

Source: Dave Strenski, volunteer with Solar Ypsi
Writer: Jon Zemke