MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson announces the ‘Grow Solar’ campaign to encourage energy efficiency and affordability for residents.

Grow Solar is part of Milwaukee’s ‘Greening the Electric Grid’ intiative, one of the ten ideas to follow the Milwaukee Climate & Equity Plan.

The goal is to limit fossil fuels and decrease climate pollution.

The city is partnering with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association to offer a community group buy program for discounted solar panel systems.

There will be a participation-based rebate throughout the summer. So, the more people that buy solar products, the larger the rebate.

“This ​is ​especially ​important ​as ​the ​region ​considers ​large ​scale ​data ​centers,” said Mayor Johnson. “​We ​need ​to ​make ​sure ​that ​we’re ​staying ​focused ​on ​our ​climate ​goals.”

Residents in Milwaukee, Waukesha, ​Jefferson, ​Ozaukee, ​and ​Washington ​counties can join the program. Non-profits and small businesses are also elgible for the group savings.

Educational solar presentations and housing assessments are free to participating community members.

“Those ​data ​centers ​are ​going ​to ​consume ​a ​lot ​of ​power, ​a ​lot ​of ​energy,” said Mayor Johnson​. ​”We ​need ​to ​source ​as ​much ​power ​as ​possible ​from ​clean, ​renewable ​energy ​sources.”

The campaign was presented during the rooftop solar panel unveiling at the District 3 Milwaukee police station on April 29.

Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman praised the department’s dedication to going green.

“We ​also ​have ​put ​in ​LED ​lights, ​leaned ​into ​the ​renewable ​hybrid ​vehicles,electric ​vehicles,” said Chief Norman. “​Understand ​our ​commitment ​to ​be ​a ​part ​of ​this ​project, ​part ​of ​this ​effort ​to ​ensure ​that ​we ​are ​leaning ​into ​being ​more​ ​energy ​efficient.”

The major rooftop installion finished in March 2026 and will deliver 10% of the building’s annual energy.

Tags: Climate and Equity PlanMidwest Renewable Energy AssociationMilwaukeeMilwaukee Mayor Cavalier JohnsonMilwaukee Police DepartmentPolice Chief Jeffery Normansolar panelsolar powerWisconsin