The River Revitalization Foundation (RRF) was founded in 1994 and is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. RRF is a conservation organization that works to establish and preserve a public access parkway, walkways, and recreation opportunities along the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic Rivers. They utilize the rivers to help revitalize the surrounding neighborhoods, build waterfront trails, restore the riverside habitat and nearby urban landscape, improve local water quality, and as a way to educate and connect with the public. 

Going Solar with RE-volv

The River Revitalization Project went solar with RE-volv with the help of the Solar Ambassador Team at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). The Solar Ambassadors at UWM led a crowdfunding campaign to raise the up-front capital needed to bring solar to the River Revitalization Foundation. As RRF pays back RE-volv for the cost of the solar system, these solar payments will be put into RE-volv’s Solar Seed Fund, a revolving fund for solar energy. Check out the crowdfunding video created by the Solar Ambassadors at UWM below. 

In addition to running a crowdfunding campaign to pay for the upfront cost of going solar, the Solar Ambassador Team at UWM also led a community engagement campaign that helped educate the community about the importance of solar energy. Kimberly Gleffe, the Executive Director of the River Revitalization Foundation says, “As a demonstration project, it has become a source for public education about alternative energy and has reduced our electric bills to boot!” By going solar with RE-volv, the River Revitalization Foundation will save $3,900 on their electricity bills over the life of the system and will also show nearby residents that solar is achievable on top of homes, buildings, and other nonprofits located along the rivers in Milwaukee. 

Kimberly Gleffe says, “Our solar project with UWM ambassadors, as well as a green roof installation, has benefited not only the building we call our office, but serves as a demonstration project for public awareness about alternative energy no matter how small the project is - it makes a difference!”

Community Collaboration for Solar 

Thank you to the 98 generous donors whose contributions to this campaign helped pay for the upfront costs to bring solar to the River Revitalization Foundation. Thank you to a generous, anonymous donor whose donation allowed all donations to this campaign to be matched! Additionally, thank you to Helios who generously donated the solar panels for this project!