Madison - When the Goodman Pool on Madison's south side opens tomorrow, kids and their families will be keeping cool while solar-powered electricity is being generated above their heads.

Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) and the City of Madison have partnered on a solar power structure designed to shade the toddler sandbox area. The 40-foot-long by 20-foot-wide shade incorporates a 2.1-kilowatt photovoltaic system on the roof. The system will produce enough electricity to run the two ice cream freezers and ice machine at the pool for the entire summer. The electricity powered by the sun will eliminate about 5,700 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually that would otherwise be produced by fossil fuel-powered generation.

"The City of Madison is leading the way forward on sustainable design and conservation, and MGE has been an important partner in those efforts," said Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. "Projects like this are good for both the environment and the bottom line." The Goodman Pool solar power shade was built as part of the Energy Partnership for a Green Capital City formed by MGE and the City of Madison in 2005.

"This project continues a long tradition of leadership in renewable energy for our community, and we are pleased to be partners with the Mayor and the City of Madison to make this installation possible," said Gary Wolter, MGE chairman, president and CEO.

The two entities have a strong history of working together on energy efficiency projects such as the Neighborhood Environmental Action Teams and Clean Energy Challenge. The Clean Energy Challenge seeks to reduce citywide emissions of carbon dioxide (CO,) by 100,000 tons by 2011. The Goodman Pool solar project will help City government achieve its goal of reducing its own CO, "footprint" by 25% of 15,000 tons by 2011. Additionally, in 2004 MGE and the City of Madison built a first of its kind in the Midwest solar-powered parking canopy downtown at the corner of South Pinckney and Doty Streets.