RENEW: Retaking the Initiative in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Resources

Wisconsin Wind Resource Center

The Wisconsin Wind Information Center is the central resource devoted to informing the public and policy makers on wind projects over 100 kilowatts in Wisconsin. See detailed tables of:

• Wisconsin Wind Farms Constructed 1998-2010
• Suspended or Cancelled Windpower Projects in Wisconsin
• Windpower Projects in Wisconsin Under Construction

The facts, policies, and histories of large scale wind projects serve to describe the paths taken towards greater social acceptance of large-scale wind energy in the state.

Economic and local revenue benefits
Windpower Capacity by Township and County

Information documented for several of Wisconsin's Wind Farms includes:

Blue Sky Green Field
Cedar Ridge Wind Energy Center
Glacier Hills Wind Energy Center
Montfort Wind Farm
Rosiere Wind Farm

The Challenges for Renewables in Wisconsin

1. Suspension of the wind siting rule, PSC 128

   The PSC 128 suspension bill remains in the rules committee in each house as negotiations on a compromise solution continues.  

2. Hydro bill "SB 81/AB 114,  the “Outsource Renewable Energy to Canada Act.”
   Governor Walker signed SB 81 into law Jan. 7, 2012. It grants REC credits toward the WI RPS for energy from large hydro, commencing after 12/31/15.

   SB 81/AB 114 allows all new large hydro to count toward the RPS effective 12/31/15.  AB 114 permits electric utilities to use generation from hydro facilities larger than 60 megawatts to satisfy their renewable energy requirements under 2005 Act 141. Manitoba Hydro could easily become Wisconsin’s largest supplier of statutorily sanctioned renewable energy in the next decade.

3. REC bill AB-146 (Renewable Energy Credits)

   AB-146 eliminates the four year expiration date for RECS, thereby allowing utilities to bank unlimited RECs to meet the RPS in future years. This legislation will allow utilities to bank RECs 'in perpetuity.'  Utilities would not need to create or purchase any renewable energy in future years.

   Rep. Severson, a member of the Assembly Energy and Utilities Committee, has proposed a eight-year shelf life that could be made longer by the PSC if necessary for consistency with a regional trading program.  The bill is still in that committee.   Link to Severson's substitute amendment.

4. Focus on Energy, Renewable Energy Program Incentives Dropped.

   Story from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:   "The state Focus on Energy program, which is under new management, has suspended incentives for renewable energy projects effective July 1. The suspension doesn’t affect incentives for homeowners but does mean businesses and local governments won’t be eligible for funding to help bring down the cost of renewable projects such as solar and wind installations, said Jolene Sheil, director of the Focus on Energy program at the state Public Service Commission. Sheil said budgetary challenges and heavy demand for renewable energy funds drove the decision to suspend funding."  

5. We Energies prematurely terminated its $60 million commitment ($6 million annually over a 10-year period) to renewable energy development within its service territory.

   RENEW Blog - We Energies renewable energy program termination

   We Energies announcement can be accessed at http://www.we-energies.com/re/

     RENEW Wisconsin is now a non-profit partner of 1% for the Planet, an alliance of over 1,380 member companies in 43 countries that give one percent of revenues to environmental causes.   We're eligible to receive donations from 1% member companies, placing us among a diverse, global network of environmental organizations.


     1% member businesses fuel this non-profit network through their annual contributions, which totaled over $22 million in 2010. Partnership with 1% greatly expands the potential pool of funding to which RENEW Wisconsin can look to for support.   Over 2,300 non-profits worldwide are included in the 1% network, and over $70 million has been funneled to the non-profit partners to date.


     ”The intent of 1% for the Planet is to help fund these diverse environmental organizations so that collectively they can be a more powerful force in solving the world’s problems,”; Yvon Chouinard, founder of 1% for the Planet.  


     RENEW is proud to be accepted as a 1% for the Planet Partner. This Partnership will help us to provide thousands of people with practical skills and knowledge to reduce the impact of their energy usage and live more lightly on the planet. To learn more about 1%, visit their website.