Staff of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce welcomed local and regional government officials as well as community and chamber members to take an early look at the ongoing renovations for their office on Thursday, March 21.
Chamber staff showed those in attendance the new space and offered food and refreshments while construction continued on the building at 109 E Main St. The chamber initially began renovations to modernize the space, replace deteriorating features and add insulation in September 2023.
The highlight of the afternoon came during a press conference where the chamber’s Executive Director, Christina Williams announced T-Mobile’s contribution to the project.
Williams stated that the renovated building will be fitted with 21 solar panels to make it a net-zero electricity facility. She continued by thanking T-Mobile for their $25,000 grant to make this portion of the renovations a reality.
“Just when we thought adding solar panels was no longer an option, T-Mobile came through with providing the grant to fund the project,” Williams said, “This grant not only enables us to add solar panels, but also helps us bring our sustainability vision to life. As the first private sector building to embrace solar energy in Sun Prairie, we are proud to lead the way in embracing renewable energy sources.”
T-Mobile’s Southern Wisconsin Rural Market Manager, Scott Guckenberger said that the company has committed to awarding $25 million in Hometown Grants from 2021-2026.
The Sun Prairie Chamber’s project to add solar panels to their building was one such recipient of $25,000 during the most recent round of grants. Guckenberger said that the initiative is a part of a larger effort to engage with the communities they operate in. T-Mobile opened its first retail store in Sun Prairie within the Prairie Lakes development in 2023.
“It gives us a sense of belonging within the community. Because we don’t want to just be another company in any particular location when we open up a store we really want it to entrench ourselves there,” Guckenberger said.
Sun Prairie City Administrator Aaron Oppenheimer also spoke to the importance of community initiative in pursuing sustainability efforts.
“The installation of solar panels represents more than just a physical addition to the building. It symbolizes a commitment to sustainability and a brighter future for Sun Prairie,” Oppenheimer said, “We’ve been actively working to increase the presence of solar energy throughout Sun Prairie. From revising our zoning ordinances to reducing costs and permitting times, we are dedicated to making solar more accessible.”
Dane County government has also shown a commitment to sustainability efforts over the years. Projects such as the Dane County Airport-MG&E solar array, which went online in 2020, have helped county government make a positive contribution to the cause.
State Sen. Melissa Agard, Rep. Melissa Ratcliff and Dane County Executive Joe Parisi were in attendance for the event, showing regional support for the initiative.
“What’s really exciting about the chamber doing this is that they can demonstrate and be a resource now for other local businesses who own their own facilities, who use a lot of energy,” said Parisi.
To further support the local community, the chamber has contracted with Midwest Solar Power for the solar energy installation. The Madison-based company and its employees are set to also see the benefit of T-Mobile’s investment in the area.
Williams said that Midwest Solar will begin to set up the array of panels once the weather lightens up and necessary permits are acquired.
Once construction is complete, Williams said that the chamber is excited to welcome the community back in for its grand opening in the near future.
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