October 20, 2026 — Madison Energy Infrastructure (Madison), Bryan Municipal Utilities (BMU), Eitri Foundry, and Ohio Energy Project (OEP) gathered last week to celebrate the near-completion of a new 4.4-megawatt municipal solar array and launch a Solar STEM Design curriculum with fifth-grade students at Bryan Elementary School.

As electricity demand grows, communities need new generation and greater certainty around long-term power costs. Madison’s Community Infrastructure Initiative brings together local energy investment and lasting community benefits, with a commitment to develop 1 GW of distributed energy capacity by 2028, backed by up to $2 billion in capital.

In Bryan, that means a solar array built close to where energy is used, a 30-year agreement that gives BMU cost certainty for its ratepayers, and a curriculum that connects students to local energy infrastructure.

“Our priority is providing reliable power at the lowest cost possible,” said Derek Schultz, Director of Utilities, Bryan Municipal Utilities. “Working with Madison and Eitri Foundry, we’re adding local generation and securing a stable energy rate for 30 years. Madison and the OEP's support for the classroom program extends that investment to our students, giving them a chance to learn how energy is produced right here in Bryan.”

Power Bryan Can Plan Around

Through a power purchase agreement (PPA), BMU has secured a stable energy rate for 30 years, helping the utility manage long-term power costs and reduce exposure to market volatility. Bryan has long made solar part of its power supply: the city brought a 2 MW array online in 2012, and in 2025 BMU sought proposals for new solar supply at best overall value for its customers. Madison owns and operates the array, which will deliver power directly into BMU’s system.

In partnership with Eitri Foundry, one of Madison’s longstanding key development and EPC partners in Ohio, the ultimate goal was to implement a project that would best serve the City of Bryan. Having been of service to the AMP community since 2017, Eitri Foundry has found ways to prioritize the values of Public Power communities like Bryan. By establishing the bridge with responsible long-term ownership partners at Madison, Eitri Foundry is confident that the relationship will strengthen the City beyond just economic benefits.

“A municipal project must be designed to serve and support the utility, its customers, and the community around it,” said Lian Niu, co-founder of Eitri Foundry and an Ohio Energy Project board trustee. “I’ve seen across Ohio that the best projects go beyond the array. Working with OEP, Madison, and BMU, we helped bring a solar curriculum to Bryan Elementary, so students can learn from the project they can see every day.”

Project Snapshot

Bringing the Lesson to Life

The Bryan Elementary pilot traces back more than a year to an OEP fundraiser that Madison attended as a sponsor. Lian Niu, an OEP board trustee, longtime Madison partner, and co-founder of Eitri Foundry, was there too. OEP shared its goal of building a new solar curriculum, and that conversation sparked the education component of the Bryan project, with Madison’s Solar Empowered Schools program advising and supporting the effort.

Over the past year, OEP developed a standards-aligned Solar STEM Design curriculum for elementary and middle school students. Madison sponsored teacher training and classroom activity kits to bring it to Bryan Elementary School.

At Bryan Elementary School, fifth graders took part in the first Solar STEM Design lessons, working through a Solar Challenge built around the array being completed in their own community. Students explored how sunlight becomes electricity, built simple circuits, and met an engineering design challenge: creating solar-powered model homes using panels, wiring, lights, fans, and buzzers.

“Bryan is a great example of what can happen when local leadership, strong partnerships, and sustained investment come together,” said Meghan Milo, Director of Solar Empowered Schools at Madison. “We’re proud to work alongside BMU, Eitri, and OEP on a project that meets real energy needs while giving local students the chance to learn from the infrastructure being built right here in town.”

Madison’s Solar Empowered Schools program now serves more than 150 schools nationwide.

What Comes Next

Once the solar array is complete, BMU ratepayers will benefit from long-term energy cost certainty, while Bryan students will have a real-world example of solar energy in their own community. Madison will continue its partnership with BMU, collaborate with Eitri Foundry on projects across Ohio, and support OEP as the Solar STEM Design curriculum expands to more classrooms.

About Madison Energy Infrastructure

Madison Energy Infrastructure is on a mission to modernize energy for industry and communities, where it matters most. Madison’s growing ecosystem and robust portfolio are bolstered by the strength of EQT and our globally renowned capital partners. Building on its proven track record and expertise, Madison is strengthening communities and bringing distributed energy infrastructure to scale amid surging power demand. Learn more at madisonei.com/community-infrastructure.

About Eitri

Eitri Foundry develops and builds solar projects that serve the communities that host them. With strong roots in technical design, engineering and project management, Eitri Foundry brings a trusted level of standard to project implementation and integration to municipal and utility grids. Beyond just being able to build quality projects, Eitri works with its municipal and financing partners to understand how to better optimize solar services and planning to ensure all stakeholders are satisfied and every project strengthens the communities who host them.

About Ohio Energy Project

Ohio Energy Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing energy education for teachers, students, and communities throughout Ohio. Through STEM-focused, standards-aligned programs, OEP equips the next generation with the knowledge and skills to become leaders in energy literacy, environmental sustainability, and conservation. Learn more at ohioenergy.org.

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