RENEW Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization that promotes renewable energy in Wisconsin. We work on policies and programs that expand solar power, wind power, renewable fuels, local hydropower, building electrification, energy storage, and electric vehicles. Since 1991 we have been a champion for clean energy solutions in the Badger State.
Why do we support renewable energy?
It’s made in Wisconsin. We’re proud of our state and what we make here. We believe we can use our own resources to produce our own energy.
It’s good for our economy. Transitioning to renewable energy will create thousands of good-paying local jobs and keep our energy dollars in Wisconsin.
It saves money for our businesses and families. Renewable sources like wind and solar are the most cost-effective way to generate electricity, which saves money for everyone.
It means protecting our water and lands. Clean energy helps to preserve Wisconsin’s resources for future generations.
Our Team
Our Staff and Board of Directors bring a diverse set of passions and skills to fulfill our shared vision of renewable energy powering a prosperous Wisconsin.
Jodi Jean Amble
Deputy Director
608-255-4044, ext. 101
email Jodi
I’m proud to be working with this tenacious and talented team to help build a cleaner, stronger, and smarter Wisconsin.
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I joined RENEW in June 2017 as the communications and events lead. I was the Marketing Coordinator at Norcon, Inc., a general contractor in Chicago, for eight years, where I managed all of the firm’s marketing efforts, initiated a recycling program, and supported their build-out and relocation to a LEED Gold Certified office building. My husband Aaron and I moved our family from Chicago at the end of 2015 and we’re so happy to be “back home” with our daughter Ada (b. 09.18.14) and son Enzo (b. 06.26.16). In addition, I’m proud to be working with this tenacious and talented team to help build a cleaner, stronger, and smarter Wisconsin. When not at RENEW, you can find me exploring the city with my family or singing with some of Madison’s finest musicians.
Kim Bauer
Administrative Coordinator
608-255-4044, ext. 111
email Kim
My passion for sustainability and environmental advocacy led me to RENEW where I felt that I could help make a meaningful impact here in Wisconsin.
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Alex Beld
Communications Manager
608-255-4044, ext. 103
email Alex
I joined RENEW in June of 2023 and am excited for the opportunity to play a role in creating a cleaner Wisconsin. I’ve called Wisconsin my home for most of my life.
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I joined RENEW in June of 2023 and am excited for the opportunity to play a role in creating a cleaner Wisconsin. I’ve called Wisconsin my home for most of my life. I was raised in Madison and earned my bachelor’s in journalism from UW – Oshkosh in 2013. Since earning my degree, I’ve worked in both marketing and journalism. When not working, I spend much of my time enjoying the various recreational opportunities Wisconsin has to offer, from rock climbing and biking to hunting and fishing. My experiences in the outdoors are the source of my passion for the environment and the need to protect it. I’m excited to be a part of the team at RENEW and to play a role in creating a cleaner and healthier Wisconsin.
Ben Behlke
Clean Technology Manager
608-255-4044, ext. 110
email Ben
I am passionately committed to advocating for the power of clean technology to propel Wisconsin toward greater economic growth, energy self-sufficiency, and an equitable energy landscape that will benefit future generations.
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Born and raised near the Wisconsin border in Galena, Illinois, my strong affinity for Wisconsin was shaped from an early age by frequent visits to its beautiful Driftless region. My academic journey at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville led to dual degrees in Sustainability and Renewable Energy Systems, and Political Science, with a Pre-Law certificate. As Student Body President (2019-2021), I contributed to significant sustainability projects, including a 2.4 MW under-the-meter solar array initiative, campus fleet EV audit, and efforts towards a zero-waste campus by 2035. I also conducted research on pennycress as a biofuels cover crop under the USDA-funded Integrated Pennycress Research Enabling Farm & Energy Resilience (IPREFER) project to harness its potential for a cleaner transportation sector and added income for Wisconsin farmers.
My work with the Wisconsin Conservative Energy Forum as the Wisconsin Land and Liberty Field Director, guiding rural communities through large-scale renewable energy developments and transmission work, further solidified my commitment to educating and advocating for clean technology. At RENEW, I am eager to use my expertise and passion to foster a more prosperous, sustainable Wisconsin.
Ismaeel Chartier
Development Director
608-255-4044, ext. 102
email Ismaeel
I believe renewable energy is not just a means to power our homes and businesses; it is a path to a sustainable future. By embracing clean energy, we can safeguard our environment, boost our economy, and ensure energy security for future generations.
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I believe renewable energy is not just a means to power our homes and businesses; it is a path to a sustainable future. By embracing clean energy, we can safeguard our environment, boost our economy, and ensure energy security for future generations.
I’m glad to be a part of the team at RENEW Wisconsin where I can utilize my 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector to further our mission. My strong family values serve as a foundation for the work I do here — and it is through my unwavering commitment to making the world better for all who inhabit it that I hope to help RENEW make a significant impact.
Outside of work, l enjoy reading and studying philosophy, theology, and languages.
Sam Dunaiski
Executive Director
608-255-4044, ext. 100
email Sam
I’m thrilled to be using my knowledge and background to help move Wisconsin toward a clean, sustainable energy future.
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I grew up outside Duluth, MN on a 42.5-acre Christmas tree farm that my parents still live on. In college, I attended University of Wisconsin-Madison where I earned my bachelors in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Before joining RENEW in 2018, I worked as a meteorologist making forecasts for utilities, radio stations, farming groups, and other clients across the central U.S. My work led me to become very passionate about climate change, and when my family moved from the Twin Cities back to Madison, I decided to make a career change. I’m thrilled to be using my knowledge and background to help move Wisconsin toward a clean, sustainable energy future. In my spare time, I love to run, ski, and cook. I also enjoy camping trips with my wife, Maggie, and our son Ted, who was born in 2013.
Heather Hanson
Accounting Manager
608-255-4044, ext. 112
email Heather
I joined RENEW in October 2022 and am thrilled to be working for a nonprofit focused on renewable energy in Wisconsin.
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I grew up in St. Paul, MN and first moved to Madison in 2004 to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I graduated in 2008 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and spent the first 10 years of my career as a Manufacturing Engineer and Continuous Improvement Leader. We moved back to Madison in 2014, and I joined a nonprofit board of directors. This volunteer experience led to my career pivot to nonprofit finance in 2020 and have since received a Nonprofit Accounting Professional certificate. I joined RENEW in October 2022 and am thrilled to be working for a nonprofit focused on renewable energy in Wisconsin. When not at RENEW, our family loves to adventure. You can find my partner and me along with our 3 kids, ages 10, 8, and 6, exploring Madison by bike or hiking in the woods.
Julia Holzschuh
Communications and Events Coordinator
608-255-4044, ext. 104
email Julia
I grew up in Wisconsin and have always been passionate about the environment, which makes having a career at RENEW all the more exciting and satisfying.
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I joined the RENEW team in January of 2023 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in Public Relations and Political Science and moving to Madison. I grew up in Wisconsin and have always been passionate about the environment, which makes having a career at RENEW all the more exciting and satisfying. I’m excited to collaborate with this team and am excited to experience the renewable energy community! I enjoy spoiling my cats, Mai and Milo, drawing, or finding my newest comfort candle in my free time.
Andrew Kell
Policy Director
608-255-4044, ext. 107
email Andrew
I believe that renewable energy is the key to bring communities together, decarbonize our energy infrastructure, and create economic development throughout Wisconsin.
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I grew up in a small rural town north of Green Bay, and not long after getting an English degree at UW-Oshkosh, I served in Peace Corps-Kazakhstan. Upon returning to Wisconsin from abroad, I decided to further my education in energy and environmental policy and completed a graduate degree through the La Follette School of Public Affairs at UW-Madison. After grad school, I worked ten years at the Public Service Commission, where I concentrated on renewable energy policy, wholesale electricity markets, and retail rate design. I’m excited to be a team member at RENEW Wisconsin and continue doing the good work on policies that push renewable energy and electric vehicle infrastructure forward.
Tiana Snyder
Program Coordinator
608-255-4044, ext. 105
email Tiana
As the Program Coordinator at RENEW Wisconsin, I’m excited to combine my experience and passions to advance renewable energy in the state.
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From an early age, I was captivated by conservation, sustainability, and human-environment interactions. These passions led me to pursue a Master’s in Environmental Conservation from the Nelson Institute. There, I deepened my commitment to sustainability, especially through community collaboration and engagement. Now, as the Program Coordinator at RENEW Wisconsin, I’m excited to combine my experience and passions to advance renewable energy in the state. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, nature photography, cooking, and exploring new restaurants with loved ones.
Orrie Walsvik
Staff Attorney
608-255-4044, ext. 108
email Orrie
I’m ready to defend renewable energy in Wisconsin communities and to make sure each individual’s rights to fair energy policies are protected.
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I joined RENEW as the organization’s first Staff Attorney in September 2023. My focus is to support RENEW’s mission through legal advocacy in my home state of Wisconsin.
I attended the University of Wisconsin for both my law and undergraduate degrees. Before joining RENEW, I was an Attorney Advisor at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Washington, D.C. During law school, I worked for low-income clients at Wisconsin Law’s clinical programs, defending clients facing housing and employment issues, and clerked at Wheeler Van Sickle & Anderson.
Prior to attending law school, I was a compliance officer for several years at a large biodiesel company in Ames, IA. I have experience on the ground with clean energy—I’ve held jobs as a plant operator producing biogas, biodiesel, and renewable glycerin at several different organizations.
Some of my favorite spots in Wisconsin include the southern Wisconsin River, Camp Randall, and Door County.
Beata Wierzba
Government Affairs Director
608-255-4044, ext. 109
email Beata
I joined RENEW as Director of Government Affairs in February 2023. My past roles focused on advancing legislative proposals and statewide policy changes, fueling my passion for advocacy. I look forward to working for this great organization to advance renewable energy.
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I joined RENEW as Director of Government Affairs in February of 2023. My past roles focused on advancing legislative proposals and statewide policy changes, fueling my passion for advocacy. I look forward to working for this great organization to advance renewable energy. Energy and utility-related issues are not new to me as I worked for the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association at the state level, as well as the national group, for 17 years. My accomplishments include helping 28 proposals become law during that time. My experience also includes building member engagement, political involvement, event planning and fostering lasting relationships with elected officials.
Prior to lobbying, I worked in the state legislature for several years, starting as a senate messenger while earning my sociology degree from UW-Madison, followed by various roles including staffing the agriculture committee.
When not working, I enjoy spending time with my family, gardening, and traveling.