Project Titles:

• Visitor Center Photovoltaic Array (FFS #R3CA)
• Employ 30 YCC Enrollees (FFS #R3NB*)
• Employ 10 Conservation Interns (FFS #R3ND*)

State: Wisconsin

Project Description: Thanks to a modest $335,450 investment of funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Necedah National Wildlife refuge was able to make successful energy improvements with the installation of solar panels. So successful, in fact, they have found themselves producing more energy than they are using, resulting in huge energy cost savings. The project was completed in March 2011.

The Recovery Act funds allowed the refuge to include a photovoltaic array to the new visitor center it was already planning to build. Photovoltaic arrays convert sunlight into electricity. It was estimated that once installed and operational, the photovoltaic array would satisfy most of the visitor center’s electricity needs. The end result exceeded those estimates and expectations.

The refuge also used $18,000 in Recovery Act funds to hire youth as part of the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) and another $7,500 to employ conservation interns. The YCC program provides summer employment for youth between the ages of 15 and 18 and provides them an opportunity to work, earn, and learn by completing projects that further the development and conservation of the nation’s natural resources. The most important objective of the program is to take young adults from different social, economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds and place them in an environment where they can constructively cultivate work, social, and educational skills.

For additional information, visit the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge website.

Photos:

After Photo: The new solar panels on the visitor center at Necedah NWR

News Release: Secretary Salazar Announces $518,000 for Energy Conservation and Youth Employment at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge

Feature Story: Necedah NWR Visitor Center

*Projects R3NB and R3ND are Regionwide projects impacting multiple sites. Visit the Youth Employment in the Midwest Region project page to learn more about the youth employment projects taking place in this region.

Originally posted 08/10/2009
Updated 06/01/2010
Updated 06/16/2010
Updated 02/09/2011
Page Completed 11/09/2011