ANTIGO — As part of a celebration of Earth Day, the Antigo Public Library (APL) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday morning for its rooftop solar array, which was commissioned earlier this year.
The event began with speeches from many of the library officials who led the project, including Former Library Director Dominic Frandrup, who began the grant writing process that he said eventually resulted in the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and the Office of Energy Innovation awarding the library $230,000, 75 percent of the project’s projected cost.
Frandrup said the project was necessary, given the stagnant budget the library has operated on for years.
“Without any funding increases, the library continually faced significant challenges in meeting the evolving needs of our communities,” he said. “With rising costs in every aspect of operation from materials to utilities, it became imperative to explore sustainable solutions to ensure the library’s continued accessibility and relevance. Investing in solar energy emerged as a strategic decision, an investment in both the library’s future and the community’s sustainability. By reducing our reliance on conventional energy sources, the library saves utility expenses, which frees up resources to enhance essential services and programs for our patrons.”
Library Director Ada Demlow said the solar arrays have lowered the library’s energy bill thus far.
“Half to three quarters every day of our power in here is coming from the solar,” Demlow said. “As I said, our April bill was less than half of what last April’s bill was, so it’s exciting to see.”
Lauren Cohen, program manager for the renewable energy advocacy organization Renew Wisconsin, applauded those involved in the APL solar project.
“Congratulations to all of you for seeing this project to the finish line. Installing a solar array is no small feat,” Cohen said. “It takes a village, as you heard from the thank you’s to everyone involved. But by installing solar, you’re investing in not only the environmental sustainability of your organization, but also its longevity as a whole. Every person that comes in here — your visitors, your members — will see the solar array. You’re setting a phenomenal example for your community and the state of Wisconsin as a whole.”
Library Board President Sheryl Perkins thanked several organizations heavily involved in the project — including the Antigo Public Library Foundation, the Langlade County Economic Development Corporation, the City of Antigo, Jolma Electric, and Legacy Solar Co-op — as well as individuals like Demlow, who she said “followed through with all the complicated processes to get this project up and running” after taking over for Frandrup.
“A huge, huge shoutout and thank you to our library staff,” Perkins said. “They had schedules disrupted, their lives disrupted, so a huge shout out to them, and in particular to Brian Grabowsky, our library facility manager, who worked as the project manager for all the work done on-site making sure everything went smoothly. This project could not have gone well without Brian’s commitment and time. So to all these wonderful, wonderful people, we thank you.”
Saturday’s event also included a bake sale by Friends of the Antigo Public Library and activities related to Earth Day led by Langlade County 4-H, Antigo Visual Arts, and the Wild Ones.
Frandrup closed his speech by comparing libraries to the sun, saying they both “radiate warmth and enlightenment without discrimination.”
“As we bask in the glow of this achievement, let’s remember that, like the sun, libraries endure through all seasons, illuminating minds and enriching lives,” Frandrup said. “Together, we have embarked on a journey of discovery, guided by the boundless potential of knowledge and our community. Thank you once again for your support and dedication to the Antigo Public Library. Today we celebrate not only the installation of our solar panels, but also the enduring spirit of collaboration and innovation that defines our library and our community.”
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