Support

We are primarily supported by the individual memberships of Wisconsin citizens interested in protecting Wisconsin's environment and encouraging clean renewable resource development.

Our annual memberships range from $25 to a sustaining level of $ 2,500 or more.

We do not disclose individual sustaining memberships.

 

 

About RENEW 

RENEW Wisconsin (RENEW) is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting economically and environmentally sustainable energy policies and practices in Wisconsin.

In its 20th year, RENEW continues to advance progressive renewable energy policies for Wisconsin through advocacy, education, and collaborative initiatives. RENEW is at the policy and regulation table every day representing 115 renewable energy companies doing business in Wisconsin as well as nearly 300 individuals and other organizations who share our vision for Wisconsin.

The 2010Midwest Regional Wind Energy Advocacy Award   was presented to RENEW Wisconsin Executive Director by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Powering America program. 

  Major Programs & Policies

Renewable energy buyback policy

Nearly 50,000 utility customers in Wisconsin support renewable energy through paying higher rates each month for their electricity. As confirmed in recent polls, more than 75% of the population support a greater commitment to renewable energy development.  RENEW is working to translate that demand for renewables into buyback rates that encourage additional supplies of renewable energy from local producers.

Net energy billing policy overhaul

Net energy billing allows utility customers who produce renewable energy  on-site to sell excess output back and receive the full retail rate for it. Established in 1982,  Wisconsin’s net energy billing policy has become woefully out-of-date, lagging behind other states that actively enourage customer generation of renewables. One of RENEW’s highest priorities is to push for a 21st century policy that increases maximum eligible system size from 20 kW to 500 kW,  and eliminates unnecessary and costly interconnection requirements.

Increase funding for renewable energy in Focus on Energy program

Focus on Energy (Focus), the statewide energy efficiency and renewable energy program, has been a critically important driver for local renewable energy production and is a key factor why installation activity is higher here than in other Midwest states. In July 2011, Focus suspended awarding incentives for non-residential renewable energy projects, with no certainty of their return. RENEW is pushing Focus to restore financial support to renewable energy systems serving businesses, industries and nonprofit entities.

Creating and defending Wisconsin's 10% Renewable Energy Standard

RENEW formulated, and helped mobilize support for, a 10% renewable energy standard on electric  utilities by 2015. Adopted in 2006, this modest standard is under attack from utilities, certain large industries and hostile elements in the Legislature. Over RENEW’s objections, the standard was amended in 2011 to allow utilities to count generation from large Canadian hydro sources toward their renewable requirements. Since then, RENEW has had success rallying renewable energy producers to fight off other efforts to weaken Wisconsin’s five-year-old standard.

Rulings to permit renewable energy leasing of systems by third-party owners

For economic reasons, most small-scale renewable energy facilities in the country are owned and installed by third parties. Often it is easier for third parties to take advantage of federal credits, business depreciation, and relieves the property owner of financing the system and building it.  However, this process is not allowed, or is ambiguous in Wisconsin, due to confusing interpretations of statutes by various PSC attorneys.

Coordinating a Midwest Wind Siting project

RENEW is coordinanting an information and education project on behalf of a number of environmental partners to educate the public and policy makers on wind energy best practices. 

Renewable energy information dissemination

RENEW is the go-to media voice on renewable energy issues in Wisconsin through its print and on-line publications, and press releases.

  Major Achievements  

• 2011:  Project lead for the Midwest Wind Siting Initiative 



• 2009 - present:  Creating an on-line Wisconsin Wind Information Center



• 2007 - 2009: Spearheaded passage of Wind Siting Law (2009 Act 40)



• 2007 - present:  Facilitating Wisconsin Wind Working Group



• 2005: Championed WI’s first renewable energy buyback rates



• 2004 - 2006: Designed Wisconsin’s current Renewable Energy Standard (10% by 2015) and  State of Wisconsin 20% renewable energy purchase commitment (20% by 2011) (2005 Act 141)



• 2002 - Present: Founding member of We Energies Renewable Energy Collaborative



• 2002: Secured settlement agreement committing We Energies to dedicate $60 million in spending on renewable energy over 10-year period



• 2001 - 2009: Founding member of Focus on Energy’s Renewable Energy Implementation Team



• 2000 - 2004: Catalyst for updating Interconnection Standards for distributed generation (PSC 119)
  
  
• 1998 - 1999: Designed Focus on Energy’s renewable energy set-aside



• 1991: Put renewable energy on the map through intervention in PSC’s Advance Plan 6 planning process