Incoming Milwaukee health building could have solar panels

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The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors gave the thumbs up to hosting a study to see whether a solar power system could be installed at the under-construction Marcia P. Coggs Health and Human Services Center.

The future center consists of a four-story, 60,000-square-foot building in Milwaukee named after the late politician. It will be the next headquarters for the county’s Department of Health and Human Services, officials said. JP Cullen is the project construction manager.

The board on Dec. 21 voted 17-0 to request the county’s Department of Administrative Services conduct a study on the costs and benefits of a photovoltaic system in the future building parking lot. One county supervisor was absent from the meeting.

Marcelia Nicholson, chairwoman of the board, and Priscilla Coggs-Jones, who represents the 13th district, were the resolution authors, according to a news release. Seven county board members signed on as cosponsors.

“This resolution has a natural synergy with the new Marcia P. Coggs Health and Human Services Center. The decision to break ground on the Center in October was rooted in our vision to make Milwaukee County a healthier community for all. Both initiatives propel solutions to health equity as we act to close the gap in disparities to better meet the needs of the community,” Nicholson said in a statement.

Coggs-Jones, granddaughter of Marcia P. Coggs, said the study was an important first step towards sustainability.

“This study is an important first step to help Milwaukee County achieve a more sustainable future. I am hopeful that the Marcia P. Coggs Health and Human Services Center, named after my trailblazing grandmother, will become a beacon of environmental responsibility and energy efficiency, while also serving as a blueprint for new County projects moving forward,” Coggs-Jones said in a statement.

The county has a commitment to eliminate its carbon footprint by 2050 and officials said the solar power system would align with its goals.

The administrative department’s Facilities Management must provide a report to the board no later than March 2024, according to the resolution.