Safe Harbor 101

Fast-track your project – how to successfully execute Safe Harbor by July 4th, 2026

Speaker Nick Pfundheller

A Solar-Centric Economy 101

UW-Madison Professor Greg Nemet will discuss his book, How Solar Energy Became Cheap, and how his findings apply now that federal tax credits have sunset for rooftop solar.

Speaker
Greg Nemet

Biofuels 101

This session will provide a practical, plain-language overview of today’s biofuels landscape and its place within the broader clean energy transition. Attendees will learn the basics of how biogas and renewable natural gas are produced, how they are used, and the role they play in reducing emissions from waste, agriculture, and existing energy systems. The session will also touch on emerging applications such as sustainable aviation fuel and marine fuels, with a focus on real-world markets and policy drivers. Designed for both newcomers and experienced professionals looking for a refresher.

Speaker Jessica Niekrasz

Federal Funding 101

Evergreen Action will provide a timely overview of federal policy developments shaping the solar and clean energy landscape, with a focus on what recent funding, tax credit, and regulatory changes mean for project development and affordability in states like Wisconsin.

Speaker
Courtney Brady

Opening Address

Speaker
Mackenzie Mindel

2025 Year in Review

Speaker
Ismaeel Chartier

Keynote: David Loomis

Speaker
David Loomis

Renewable Energy Stories

STORYTELLERS:
Paul Schechter, Eric Udelhofen, Kim Bauer, Anjali Balakrishna

Data Centers & Energy Use

Data center development is occurring rapidly throughout the nation and impacting grid planning, investments, and how we use energy. This plenary session will address impacts on renewable energy and concerns that come with rapid growth of new large energy users in Wisconsin. Attendees will hear from several perspectives and learn technical aspects associated with data center development.

Speakers
Korinne Haeffel, Louis Liu, Tyler Huebner, Kathy Kuntz, Dan Ebert

Local Restrictions on Renewable Energy

As renewable energy development expands in Wisconsin, developers, solar installers, and homeowners are navigating an evolving landscape of zoning and land-use regulation. This panel will examine how county and municipal zoning ordinances affect the design standards and siting of solar, wind, and energy storage projects, and where legal boundaries on local authority are being tested. Panelists will explore the respective roles of developers, local zoning officials, and state regulators, including how the Wisconsin Public Service Commission interacts with local zoning ordinances. Through a legal lens and real-world examples, the discussion will highlight points of conflict and collaboration and clarify how Wisconsin law restricts local authority.

Speakers
Sherif Halaweish, Eric Callisto, Orrie Walsvik, Isaac Uitenbroek, David Jakubiak

Financing the Future: Investment Beyond Federal Incentives

Federal incentives have accelerated renewable energy deployment in Wisconsin, but long-term growth will require broader and more durable financing strategies. This session examines investment tools and capital pathways that extend beyond federal programs, including institutional financing, municipal and cooperative models, tax-credit transfer markets, green bank mechanisms, and mission-aligned capital. Panelists will explore approaches that strengthen market resilience, expand access to capital for community and Tribal projects, and support equitable statewide economic development. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of emerging financial structures and practical frameworks designed to sustain Wisconsin’s clean-energy transition in the decades ahead.

Speakers Isaiah Ness, Francisco Sayu, Grant Snyder, Ismaeel Chartier

Communicating Community Benefits of Utility-Scale Renewables

Building public trust is a key part of renewable energy development. This panel will explore the ways in which organizations and communications professionals are finding success in developing acceptance of utility-scale projects by effectively communicating the benefits of joint development agreements, community benefit agreements, and utility aid payments. These efforts require a nuanced approach to build trust between developers, advocates, and the communities that host renewable energy projects.

Speakers Mariah Lynne, Rick Zimmerman, Deborah Dingess, Diane Mayerfeld

Role of Nuclear Energy in an Increasingly Renewable Grid

This panel will discuss the role of nuclear energy in an increasingly renewable grid by exploring the ways nuclear and renewable development impact each other and how nuclear could enable greater carbon reduction while also enhancing grid stability and reliability cost-effectively.

Speakers Sydnie Lieb, PJ Martin, Ben Lindley, Tom Content

Renewable Energy Awards

Speakers: Ismaeel Chartier  

Resilient Clean Energy Workforce in Times of Uncertainty

Wisconsin’s clean energy workforce is growing, but the landscape is shifting beneath our feet. Policy changes, supply-chain pressures, financing headwinds, and rapid advances in distributed energy resources (DER) demand a workforce that can adapt, innovate, and endure. This session explores proven strategies for building and sustaining a resilient clean-energy labor pipeline across solar, storage, EV infrastructure, and building electrification. Speakers will highlight employer needs, emerging training pathways, apprenticeship models, and cross-sector collaboration that prepares Wisconsin workers for a dynamic future. Attendees will walk away with practical insights to strengthen recruitment, upskilling, and long-term workforce capacity — ensuring our state stays competitive and ready to deploy DER at scale in any market environment.

Speakers Isaiah Ness, Zoar Fulwilder, Dan Webster, Daniel Wiggins, George Soucek

Year in Review: Energy Legislation and Policy

Each session provides an opportunity for new policy initiatives and continuation of developments, proposed by elected legislators and shaped by political and administrative actions. This panel will discuss how renewable energy proposals fared this legislative session – what was proposed, what’s still up for consideration and what’s possible in the near future.

Speakers Beata Wierzba, Andrew Kell

Climate Resilience & Adaptation

This panel will explore how Wisconsin can build clean energy resilience—an energy system that is both low-carbon and reliable in the face of increasing disruptions. As the state experiences more frequent extreme weather events and grid challenges, clean energy technologies like distributed solar, battery storage, microgrids, and electrification offer opportunities to strengthen local resilience while cutting emissions. Panelists will discuss how communities, utilities, and policymakers can work together to modernize the grid, improve building efficiency, and deploy resilient clean energy solutions that keep homes, businesses, and critical services powered during outages. The conversation will highlight emerging technologies, policy tools, and local success stories that illustrate what a resilient, clean energy future could look like for Wisconsin.

Speakers Robin Lisowski, Jacob Feutz, Tyson Cook, Lauren Reeg

Solar+: Expanding Beyond the Rooftop

The solar market is changing, and installers are finding new ways to stay strong. This session will explore how solar companies can expand into complementary services such as heat pumps, home battery storage, EV charging, and general electrical work. Learn how diversification can help retain staff, sustain revenue, and keep your business resilient through shifting times.

Speakers Ben Behlke, Ryan Lettau, Abbie Hawes, Frank Crandall

Keynote Address: Raghu Belur

Speakers: Raghu Belur