CAP Services’ Photovoltaics for Domestic Violence (PV/DV) Project reduces electricity costs at our Family Crisis Center (FCC), a 24-hour domestic violence and runaway youth shelter in Stevens Point, WI. This increases our financial stability and enables us to direct more resources to client services.

Overview of PV/DV Project

Download the project Case Study.

CAP Services works to create communities that are free from violence and injustice. CAP’s Family Crisis Center serves over 1,400 victims of violence each year. FCC welcomes individuals of all backgrounds and identities. Confidential services are provided 24 hours a day by a team of professional staff. Individuals have access to emergency shelter, crisis telephone and walk-in services, weekly support groups for children, teens and adults, legal and advocacy services, transitional housing for victims, and more.

Before the Project, FCC spent almost $4,500/year on electricity. Through PV/DV, CAP Services installed a 13.3kW solar array, which will offset 44% of the FCC’s annual electrical usage. The system will be paid back by year 12 and save over $84,000 in electricity costs over the 30-year warrantied life of the system. The value of the savings yields the equivalent of a 10.52% annual rate of return on the initial investment.

Our installation partner completed the installation in March of 2020. A virtual ribbon-cutting event was held April 29th.

Production March 23 – Oct 15, 2020

Amount of electricity offset

44%

Project Financing

CAP raised $12,300 during a quiet fundraising phase and completed a private capital campaign in March 2020, raising a total of $21,450 to cover CAP’s share of project costs. The generous community support we received allows us to dedicate more of our financial resources on services for victims of domestic abuse and runaway youth.

$21,450

Project Partners

  • Northwind Solar is our system installer. Northwind is a cooperative that installs solar electric systems for residential, commercial, agricultural, and nonprofit/governmental customers. Their mission is to encourage the adoption of renewable energy as an integral part of any long-term solution to the global energy crisis.
  • Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) has provided logistical and financial support through its Solar Group Buy program and Wisconsin Solar Corps initiative. These programs were made possible with support from the Couillard Solar Foundation and Sally Mead Hands Foundation. MREA’s mission is to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration.
  • RENEW Wisconsin’s Solar for Good initiative provided essential material support for the project. Solar for Good fosters the expansion of solar power among mission-based nonprofits and houses of worship in Wisconsin. Solar for Good grants nonprofits up to 75 solar panels for solar arrays 75 kW and smaller, and up to 150 solar panels for solar arrays larger than 75 kW.

Key Funders

Inverter sponsors ($2,500+)
Cathy Eckberg & Jim Butler
County Materials Corporation

Kilowatt sponsors ($1,000+)
Delta Dental of Wisconsin
Dr. Marcus & Amy Haemmerle
Cole & Nicole Harrison Steinke
Mike Olson
The SeBrowns
Stevens Point Orthopedics
Wisconsin Public Service Foundation
Don A. & Catherine M. Wolding Trust

Panel sponsors ($500+)
Diane & Richard Hope
Marg Coker-Nelson
Mary Patoka & David Onan
Superior Roofing & Remodeling
Sally Topinka