WIND POINT - On last month's energy bill, the village spent about $160 less than usual.

The savings comes from a new addition to the village's maintenance garage - a solar panel.

Workers installed the panel in May and officials will dedicate it at an annual picnic Aug. 10.

"The board does believe there is global warming and there are things that put a lot of carbon in the air," said Bill Schalk, Wind Point village president. "Solar panels have a lower carbon footprint."

Wind Point's solar panel cost $54,000. Of that money, $20,000 came from the village and has been paid in full. The other $34,000 came from grant money, Schalk said.

The village applied for grants specifically for the project. They received a $20,000 grant from We Energies and a $14,000 grant from Focus on Energy, a state organization that helps install cost effective energy efficiency projects, said Ann Brodek, the board member who headed up the project.

Recouping the village's cost will take years, but Schalk said the panel will provide a long-term savings.

"We won't break even for a long time but this solar (panel) will be working for a long time. After 16 years, our costs of installation and maintenance will be completely offset," Brodek said. "And we will be sparing the air millions of carbon emissions. The panel saves 8.8 tons of CO2 emissions per year."

The village sells energy produced by the panel to We Energies for 22 cents per kilowatt. We Energies then sells energy, which powers the garage and clerk's office, to the village for 11 cents, Brodek said.

"We're used to paying $200 a month for energy," she said. "Because we're now selling our energy, we only have to pay about $40."

So far, the village has only seen this savings in June's electric bill because the panel was not installed and activated until the end of May, said Jeanne Tomasek, Wind Point clerk treasurer.

The village board approved the panel's installation last fall. The project "started because we were invited to learn about The Johnson Foundation's solar project," Brodek said. "They clued me in on the steps we would have to take to get there."

Those steps began with finding a site. The village hired a site assessor, who agreed with board members on where to place the panel.

"It was pretty clear to us it would be on the municipal garage," Brodek said. "We wanted a discreet location and as clear a shot of the sun as possible."

After a site was selected, the village wrote grants and got bids from solar companies before deciding on Full Spectrum Solar in Madison.

At the picnic August 10, the panel will be dedicated at 2:30 p.m. Brodek will speak at the dedication, explaining the project's background, why the village installed the panel and what it means for the community, she said. The picnic runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Village Green, 215 E. Four Mile Rd. The event is sponsored by the Wind Point Community Club.