• Twitter
  • LinkedIn
Smart Cities Connect
  • About
    • Team
    • Media Kit
    • Contact
  • Verticals
    • Community Engagement
    • Digital Transformation
    • Smart Mobility
    • Urban Infrastructure
    • Urban Operations
  • Events
    • Webinars
  • Smart 50 Awards
    • 2023 Smart 50 Awards Application
  • Resources
    • Videos
News Ticker
  • [ February 1, 2023 ] Indianapolis, IN, Addresses Affordable Housing Community Engagement
  • [ January 30, 2023 ] Bulgaria’s Buses Get Digital Digital Transformation
  • [ January 27, 2023 ] Dublin, Ireland Uses Augmented Reality To Bring Back History Digital Transformation
  • [ January 25, 2023 ] Smart 50 Award Winners Demonstrate True Growth in Smart City Implementations Community Engagement
  • [ January 23, 2023 ] Paris Takes To The River For A New Mode Of Transportation Smart Mobility
HomeUncategorizedSmart 50 Award Recipient Speaks: Ypsilanti Fire Station Solar Installation

Smart 50 Award Recipient Speaks: Ypsilanti Fire Station Solar Installation

March 19, 2018 Laura Benold Uncategorized

We interviewed Dave Strenski about the Smart 50 Award winner, Ypsilanti Fire Station Solar Installation in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Here’s a bit more about his project:
By using a combination of volunteer labor, an anonymous donation, and having a solar friendly city and a company that can monetize tax credits for non-profit, the City of Ypsilanti was able to put
50kW (176 solar panels) on their Fire Station and make it solar-powered. The project started with SolarYpsi designing a solar installation for the Ypsilanti Fire Station and getting quotes for
the materials. By soliciting donations, coordinating a dozen volunteers to do the installation, and connecting with Chart HouseEnergy to monetize the 30% Federal Renewable Energy Tax credit,
the return on investment for this project is less than 5 years.  This project also pushed Ypsilanti over the 50 watts per capita mark, making us a Shining City according to Environment America.

Q: What does the term ‘smart city’ mean to you, and how does your project contribute to a larger smart city vision?

A: The City of Ypsilanti is a ‘smart city’ by striving to become a “Solar Destination” with over a 1000 solar roofs. Projects like this bring us closer to our goal and the mechanics of this project
can be repeated for other non-profits.

Q: Why is the implementation of your project transformational in our current society?

A: More then the renewable energy source, this project is a great way to build a community and give people first hand experience in installing solar power. Also, the money saved on electricity can be funneled back into the City for other community projects.

Q: What advice did you receive along the way that helped you complete your winning project?

A: Learning how to monetize tax credits was a huge win for this project and can be replicated for other solar projects.

Q: What advice would you give a city community or a solution provider looking to implement a municipal-level project?

A: Talk to as many people as possible and gather ideas. You don’t know what you don’t know.

Q: What does it mean to you to win the Smart 50 Awards?

A: This Smart 50 Awards combined with our recent SolSmart Gold award from the Solar Foundation really highlights the City of Ypsilanti as a leader in solar power in the state of Michigan.

  • community engagement
  • environment
  • grid
  • sustainability
Previous article
Next article

Related Articles

Setting The Vision for Kansas City: An Interview With The Chief Innovation Officer

Smart Fintry in Scotland, First Smart Village in UK

Panasonic Makes Peña Station Smarter

Tweets by smartcityc

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
Stay connected
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

© Copyright 2021 Smart Cities Connect, Produced by TechConnect