Casa Esther Goes Solar to Help Neighbors Pay Rent

Casa Esther Goes Solar to Help Neighbors Pay Rent

by | Nov 10, 2026 | Renewables, Solar, Solar for Good

RENEW Wisconsin’s Solar for Good program helped Casa Esther install rooftop solar at its Omro building. The solar array, powered by a $5,000 grant, is expected to reduce the nonprofit’s electricity costs by about $1,100 a year—savings it plans to put toward neighbors’ basic needs.

Casa Esther began in 2008 to support immigrant families new to the Omro area. Today, it serves people across Winnebago County. In 2025, the nonprofit provided more than $62,000 in rental assistance to over 210 households.

Casa Esther also helps neighbors with utility bills and provides gas and grocery cards. Its gardens contribute about 20 pounds of fresh food to local food pantries each week.

Starting in 2027, Casa Esther plans to direct its electricity savings toward its basic-needs budget. Lower power bills for the nonprofit can mean more support for a neighbor trying to pay rent or keep the lights on at home.

RENEW Wisconsin member installer Appleton Solar installed the 4.6-kilowatt rooftop system at Casa Esther’s building at 320 N. Webster Ave. The panels are expected to produce about 6,500 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year.

The project also reflects Casa Esther’s commitment to caring for the planet. “Part of our mission is to work to preserve a sustainable planet for all. Making a strong commitment to utilizing renewable energy sources is one way we can fulfill that piece of our mission,” said Executive Director Sara Kosmicki.

One of Kosmicki’s favorite moments was welcoming Gov. Tony Evers to see the new panels. “It was really exciting for a small non-profit like us to have the Governor visit and to have an opportunity to show off the new panels, as well as share more about who we are and the work we do,” she said.

Solar for Good helps Wisconsin nonprofits install solar so they can direct more of their budgets toward their work.

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Strum Public Library Turns the Page With Solar

Strum Public Library Turns the Page With Solar

by | Nov 10, 2026 | Renewables, Solar, Solar for Good

Strum Public Library is the hum of the Strum community. People gather there—morning coffee hours bring neighbors together, and a friendly face is always waiting. With just over 1,000 residents, a library is so much more than a place to find books for the Village of Strum in Trempealeau County.

Now, thanks to a new solar canopy, in part funded by Solar for Good, Strum Public Library is entering a new chapter.

“I Almost Fell Over”

The savings arrived faster than anyone expected. The library’s utility had warned Library Director Dawn Hering it could take six months to see a change. Instead, her first bill came in at $17.09, compared to more than $400 before. The next bill? Just around $16.

“I almost fell over when we got our first bill,” Dawn said. “So we’ve already saved about seven hundred dollars.”

Why the Library Went Solar

Keeping a rural library funded is hard, and finding steady support for its services has become a real challenge. In 2025, the library saw a rare chance to change that.

“Investing in solar would drastically reduce our utility expenses, therefore, we could then provide more resources for our community,” Dawn said.

Neighbors rallied behind the idea, and sustainability quickly became the library’s goal for the year. Support came from the community, a $5,000 Solar for Good grant, and the Winding Rivers Solar Program.

Where the Savings Go

Dawn already has plans for those dollars:

  • Expanding the library building
  • Adding a car engine fault code reader to the library’s “library of things” kits
  • Supporting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which starts in January 2027 and gives children ages 0-5 a free book every month

Essential Services, Not Just Books

It is easy to think of a library as a place to borrow books. For this small rural town, it is much more. Strum’s library started in the late 1920s as a door-to-door book drive and opened in its current form in 1956 with 2,300 donated books. Today it offers technology access, educational programs, skills development, digital resources, and community outreach, along with free public computers and copy, scan, and fax services.

In many rural communities, a school acts as a second hub. Where there isn’t one close by, the library may be the main place for learning, services, and community.

Healthcare, Social Security, taxes, and social services now run through the internet. For older residents who are not comfortable online, can’t use a computer, or don’t have family nearby, the library is often the only place to turn.

“It’s a daily thing around here,” Dawn said. “If you don’t have internet, you don’t accomplish much.”

For a lot of Strum, the library is how those essential services become accessible.

Help Us Do More of This

Strum is one of many nonprofits using solar to put more of their budgets toward the people they serve. Solar for Good has helped make more than 250 projects possible. The program runs on the support of donors who believe clean energy should reach every corner of Wisconsin, and a gift goes directly toward supporting grants for the next group of organizations.

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Share Your Support Sinnissippi Solar

Share Your Support Sinnissippi Solar

by | Nov 5, 2026 | Public Service Commission, Renewables, Solar

Public comments are open now through November 9 for Sinnissippi Solar, a 100 Megawatt (MW) solar project. If approved, the solar project will be located in Jefferson County and is planned for completion in 2029. Projects like this have a wide range of local and statewide benefits. Show your support for this project and tell the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) why this solar project is vital for Wisconsin!

You can use the listed benefits below to craft your message.

Sinnissippi Solar isn’t just about the clean energy it will produce. The 100 MW facility in Jefferson County has many benefits.

  • Economic Growth: Sinnissippi Solar is expected to create 192 temporary construction jobs, as well as several long-term local jobs for operations and maintenance. Due to associated economic stimulus related to the development of this project, Sinnissippi Solar is expected to contribute $69.3 million in statewide economic output, $41.9 million of which will occur in Jefferson County. Landowners will also benefit from consistent lease payments during the project’s 30-year lifespan.
  • Community Benefits: Once in service, Sinnissippi Solar will contribute more than $15 million in utility-aid payments over 30 years. Local governments will receive $500,000 annually, with $283,333 for Jefferson County and $216,666 for the Towns of Watertown, Ixonia, and Concord.
  • Emissions Reductions: Sinnissippi Solar will reduce emissions from energy production by about 315 million pounds of CO2 in the first year of operations. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, this is the equivalent of taking more than 31,000 vehicles off the road for a full year. Additionally, non-GHG emissions reductions will result in health, economic, and environmental benefits. Wisconsin can expect more than $690,000 in economic benefits associated with public health improvements in Sinnissippi Solar’s first year of operations alone.

Submit your comments today and tell the PSC you support the approval of Sinnissippi Solar!

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Meet RENEW Wisconsin’s Newest Board Officers!

Meet RENEW Wisconsin’s Newest Board Officers!

by | Sep 9, 2026 | RENEW Wisconsin, Renewables, Solar, Utilities

Every fiscal year, the RENEW Wisconsin Board of Directors starts things off with a vote to determine who among them will take on the additional responsibility of leading the board. Last week, the Board of Directors held its first meeting of the year, where, among other things, members voted on its leadership team for the 2026-27 fiscal year, selecting the following members for officer positions: Isaiah Ness (President), Mackenzie Mindel (Vice President), Eric Callisto (Treasurer), and Matt Dannenberg (Secretary).

Thank you to our outgoing officers, Josh Arnold (President) and Josh Stolzenburg (Treasurer). Josh Arnold continues to serve on the RENEW Board as an at-large member, while Josh Stolzenburg steps down from the board after two terms and remains engaged with RENEW as an Individual member. We can’t thank them enough for all the time, effort, and knowledge they have shared with us over the years.

Our officers play a vital role in guiding the organization, and our volunteer board members dedicate their personal time to help RENEW succeed. The expertise and passion of our board members, especially our officers, are a big part of how we are able to pursue our mission so effectively.

Meet RENEW Wisconsin’s Newest Board Members!

Meet RENEW Wisconsin’s Newest Board Members!

by | Sep 2, 2026 | RENEW Wisconsin, Renewables, Solar, Utilities

This August, the RENEW Wisconsin board of directors voted to fill two vacant mid-term seats. Joining our board are Barrett Lione-Seaton, Business Development Lead and Partner at Midwest Solar Power, and Matt Dannenberg, Head of Partnerships at Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy. Each of them brings their own unique background and perspectives to the board, helping to make sure RENEW Wisconsin is guided by a diverse group of professionals invested in our mission.

With our vacant seats filled, we will not have full elections this year. In 2027, we will return to our regular voting schedule and have competitive elections for all RENEW members to participate in.

Meet Our Newly Appointed Board Members

Barrett Lione-Seaton

Barrett brings a uniquely broad perspective to the renewable industry shaped by a geology degree, careers in craft brewing and food manufacturing, and life experience across six countries. He first connected with solar in 2020 through a non-profit he helps lead, driven by a passion for energy access and environmental impact. That work led him to join Midwest Solar Power in 2022, where he now applies his background in systems thinking, finance, and construction to help the company grow while staying true to its commitment to employees, community, and customers.

Matt Dannenberg

Matt Dannenberg is a proud citizen of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. He most recently served as Head of Tribal Engagement here at the Alliance, where he led relationship-building efforts with Tribal Nations and partners to advance Tribal energy sovereignty. He now serves as Head of Partnerships, stewarding the Alliance’s external collaborations and strengthening national coalitions that support self-determined clean energy development in Tribal communities.

Matt’s career began with a passion for meteorology, which evolved into a commitment to climate advocacy, community organizing, and public service. He spent eight years at Wisconsin Conservation Voters, where he launched the Wisconsin Native Vote campaign — an initiative that continues to mobilize Indigenous citizens across Wisconsin to vote and advocate for the protection of their natural resources.

In 2020, Matt joined the Biden campaign and was subsequently appointed to serve in the Biden–Harris Administration. He began in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, then served at the U.S. Department of Energy as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). He concluded his federal service as Senior Tribal Liaison in the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, strengthening government-to-government relationships with Tribal Nations.

Matt and his spouse, Emma, are the proud parents of a young son and daughter, who inspire his continued commitment to building a more sustainable and equitable future.

Third-Party Solar in Wisconsin

Third-Party Solar in Wisconsin

by | Aug 25, 2026 | RENEW Wisconsin, Renewables, Solar, Utilities

Third-party solar, also known as third-party ownership, legislation is lagging behind in Wisconsin, and it is impacting Wisconsinites’ ability to afford a clean and reliable energy future.

The term “third-party solar” generally refers to solar installations that are financed through one of two non-traditional means. Under the first method, a solar installer covers the upfront costs of an installation on a customer’s property. The customer can begin using the clean energy right away, and they pay for the use of the equipment over time through a lease agreement. Under this model, they are “leasing” the solar equipment, allowing them to install solar while spreading out the upfront cost over time. By removing the hurdle of shouldering the entire cost upfront, solar becomes more accessible to the many ordinary energy consumers who want to invest in renewable energy.

The second method is a power purchase agreement (PPA), which is a financing arrangement where someone agrees to host the solar system on their property while the third-party provider continues to own, operate, and maintain the system. The customer buys the electricity produced by the system from the installer, and the installer benefits from tax credits. Together, the electricity sales and the tax-credit savings create a profit margin for the installer, and the customer has the opportunity to purchase clean electricity generated on-site without upfront installation costs.

Despite the opportunities both of these models present for people to expand renewable energy development and increase access to clean energy, the legal status of these options is in somewhat of a grey area, with different parties having opposing understandings of what is and is not allowed under Wisconsin law.

Wisconsin, like many other states, uses a public utilities system that functions as a regulated monopoly. Utility companies in Wisconsin are granted a monopoly over a specified territory and are regulated by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) in exchange. The goal of this structure is to protect people from bearing the cost of duplicative infrastructure while using regulation to ensure minimum service standards and reliability. However, as created through the Wisconsin Statutes, the current system of regulation does not leave a clear pathway for third-party solar development. 

The main issue is the lack of clarification on whether third-party solar providers are “public utilities,” as defined in Wis. Stat. § 196.01(5)(a). Under the status quo, third-party solar owners apply for interconnection with an electric utility, and the utility may reject the application and designate the third-party solar projects as public utilities, in which case the customer cannot interconnect their system without an appeal to the PSC. Entities that qualify as public utilities may not operate without PSC regulation or without meeting all the requirements necessary to operate as a public utility in Wisconsin. Multiple third-party solar providers have petitioned the PSC for a declaratory ruling stating that the providers do not meet the statutory definition of a public utility; however, the PSC has avoided issuing such rulings. PSC regulation, with a system-by-system review, is not an option for third-party solar solutions because it eliminates projects’ economic feasibility due to the length and expense of PSC proceedings. Legislation is needed to clarify that third-party solar providers are not public utilities and need not be subject to the PSC’s regulation.

Surrounding states have taken this step, including Illinois and Minnesota. I have seen the benefits of this first-hand; my undergraduate institution in Illinois was able to pursue and install solar arrays on-site through a PPA when they would not have otherwise been able to justify the upfront cost of a solar installation. I was personally involved in a project to expand the on-campus renewable infrastructure to include battery storage, providing the school revenue for the grid-stabilization services that batteries provide. This is only one of countless examples of the real-life benefits provided by third-party solar arrangements – benefits that Wisconsinites are missing out on due to a lack of clarification from the legislature and the PSC. 

No matter how many people wish for a cleaner and more affordable energy future, the legal hurdles to renewable development have to be removed for change to become economically feasible. Wisconsin’s regulation of third-party solar needs to catch up to the present day in order to make this future possible.

Anna Shoup was one of RENEW’s 2026 summer law clerks. She graduated from Olivet Nazarene University with degrees in Environmental Science and Philosophy. Anna is currently a rising 2L at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School, pursuing environmental or energy law. It is her hope to work for an environmental non-profit or government agency after graduation, and to use her career to help create a more renewable future.