State Invests $900K In Milwaukee Energy Innovation Center

The state of Wisconsin is putting about $900,000 into a collaboration center in Milwaukee for businesses in the energy, power and energy controls industries.

The Mid-West Energy Research Consortium brings together academics and the private sector, with the aim to attract, grow and develop companies. Its small energy innovation center at an office complex in a low-income neighborhood in Milwaukee is about to undergo an expansion, with the help of $850,000 from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and $50,000 from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.

Some big Wisconsin firms like Johnson Controls, Rockwell Automation and We Energies are already behind the center. Gov. Scott Walker said it’s proper that more taxpayer money be put in.

“For us, it’s kind of that acorn — we’re the acorn,” said Walker. “We hope it blossoms into a big tree, at which point we can back away … and allow individual investors and business investors to take it going forward.”

Walker said if the innovation center finds ways to lower energy costs, other manufacturers and their workers will benefit, too. He hopes the site can be similar to a global water center already operating in Milwaukee.

Democratic candidate for governor Mary Burke is calling for more of these business clusters in her economic development plan.