by Lucia Wiggers | Mar 18, 2025 | Advocacy, Inflation Reduction Act, Programs, Solar, Sustainability
The Journey to Sustainability
The River Food Pantry has been a cornerstone for historically underserved communities across Dane County for nearly two decades. Its mission is both simple and profound— to provide food, resources, and faith to build a stronger community. As South Central Wisconsin’s busiest food pantry, The River serves over 3,000 people each week with grocery and meal programs, food recovery initiatives, and an on-site vegetable garden.
Offering facilities and resources that are sustainable for the people they serve is central to The River’s mission. As the organization’s programs began to outgrow its current 11,000-square-foot facility ten years ago, the pantry’s leadership recognized the need for a long-term solution that could meet growing demands and align with environmental stewardship. The River got to work envisioning a new home for the pantry that would reduce operational costs, minimize environmental impact, and expand its capacity to serve the growing community.
This transformative project was made possible thanks to the dedication of community partners, local contractors, and The River’s building team. Grants Manager Ryan Holley leveraged his expertise and passion for environmental protection to build a common vision for sustainability among other staff and board members that ultimately shaped many aspects of the project. His commitment to research and collaboration underscores how renewable energy can both power efficient operations and support community growth and resilience.
Grants Manager Ryan Holley’s passion for outdoor recreation like kayaking, hiking, and fishing inspires him to center sustainability in every aspect of his work.
Engaging the Community
The River engaged its diverse base of staff, volunteers, clients, and community partners throughout the planning process. The operations team used feedback collected from surveys to shape key decisions, including reinstating programs that were paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and keeping the drive-through food distribution model for convenience and privacy. The River is also collaborating with the Dane County Extension Horticulture program and Dane County Parks to plant a native pollinator landscape that will enhance ecological health, improve drainage, and foster community pride. The expanded facility will also include space for community collaborations, offering classrooms for partners to provide education and support for a variety of areas that intersect with food insecurity, such as cooking, nutrition, gardening, housing assistance, healthcare, and employment services—thereby transforming the pantry into a hub for addressing diverse community needs.
A 3D rendering of one of the classrooms that will host community-inspired classes in The River’s new facility.
Funding the Future
Holley emphasized the importance of planning ahead, advising that it is best to look for funding years in advance of when it might be needed. This proactive approach ensures that projects remain financially supported through all stages of planning, development, and construction.
When the time came to begin applying for funding resources, The River’s strategy was to connect with organizations and people with greater knowledge. This method proved invaluable in navigating complex federal funding processes. Guidance from the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change was instrumental in identifying opportunities and aligning the project with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Direct Pay provisions. The team also leveraged local grants and funding sources whose missions aligned with what the team was working to accomplish.
Sustainability initiatives in The River’s new facility were made possible through strategic funding sources and grants:
- Community Project Funding: $3 million secured through congressionally directed funding.
- Wisconsin-specific Grants:
- MadiSUN Backyard Solar Grant ($20,000)
- Solar for Good Grant ($16,923)
- Focus on Energy: The River enrolled in Focus on Energy’s design program to optimize weatherization and energy efficiency.
- Tax Incentives and Rebates:
- Direct Pay credits for the 2025 tax year, enabled by the Inflation Reduction Act, will allow The River to receive direct payments from the IRS covering a percentage of each renewable project’s cost once operational. These include 30% for solar, geothermal, and an EV forklift, plus a 10% bonus for solar projects in low-income communities.
Operational cost savings from a more efficient facility will expand programs like Munch Mobile Meals, which delivers free healthy meals to children and adults in low-income neighborhoods throughout Madison and Fitchburg.
Designing a Vision for Change
With funding in place, project leadership focused their attention on designing The River’s new 32,500-square-foot home. With sustainability at the forefront of his mind, Holley guided conversations between the Pantry’s Building Committee, Midwest Solar Power, and Advanced Building Corporation which developed plans for incorporating solar and geothermal systems as key elements of the new building’s design. Drawing on extensive research into renewable energy best practices and local nonprofit organizations who pursued similar projects, The River’s board, leadership, and operations team centered sustainability while collaborating with architects, contractors, and government representatives. This focus led to the strategic incorporation of plans for several renewable energy upgrades.
The project includes:
- A 113-kilowatt-hour rooftop solar array with 207 panels to power a fully electric commercial kitchen, which will increase the scale of their hot meal program.
- A geothermal-electric heat pump and HVAC system to provide environmentally friendly heating and cooling across seven climate zones within the facility.
- Infrastructure for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, paving the way for a transition to electric delivery and food recovery vehicles in the future.
These technologies will reduce the energy usage and carbon footprint of the new facility. The resulting reduction in utility expenses can be reinvested into The River’s critical services. By expanding access to essential resources and fostering sustainability, The River’s new facility will promote a greener, healthier, and more equitable future for all.
A 3D rendering of The River’s new fully-electric commercial kitchen that will be powered by the facility’s rooftop solar array.
Challenges and Solutions
During the design process, The River’s leadership team turned unexpected challenges into learning opportunities. Because the geothermal HVAC infrastructure was included later in the planning process, building an efficient and quiet system required multiple redesigns to meet the facility’s unique needs. The team chose to prioritize client experience and settled on a system configuration that minimizes any sound disruption to the facility’s staff and visitors.
Even after The River’s team had completed the design process for the new facility, they could only move as quickly as the local regulatory and permitting agencies allowed. This time was not wasted though, as the team used it as an opportunity to finalize smaller project details such as window placement and room layouts.
To Holley, navigating the federal funding process has been one of the most challenging parts of the project, with the complexities of required documentation and extended timelines requiring a significant investment of time and focus. Starting early and maintaining meticulous records proved crucial in overcoming these hurdles while working with community members who had experience in the funding process created opportunities for collaboration.
Supporters of The River’s new facility breaking ground last fall.
Looking Ahead
With construction beginning last fall, The River Food Pantry’s team is beginning to see their hard work come to life. While The River’s new home will incorporate many renewable and environmental measures, these sustainability projects are just the beginning.
“It’s good to dream big, but you should also decide what is feasible at the launch of the project and what you want down the line,” Holley advises. Future plans include expanding rooftop solar capacity, integrating electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, exploring battery storage options for solar power, adding to the native landscaping elements around the site, and expanding food recovery and composting operations to further enhance sustainability.
The River’s project illustrates how visionary leadership, community collaboration, and strategic funding can empower nonprofits to integrate renewable energy solutions that benefit both the environment and the communities they serve. Holley reflects, “When the building is actually completed and I can see all these things in practice, that will be something I’ve really had a hand in shaping, and I will be proud of what the end product turned out to be.”
The RENEW team and all of The River’s supporters are excited to celebrate the pantry’s momentous achievement. For other nonprofits considering similar projects, Holley’s advice is clear: start early and dream big. By identifying funding opportunities well in advance and aligning renewable energy initiatives with organizational missions, nonprofits can create sustainable futures for their operations and the communities they support.
To learn more about clean energy funding opportunities, reach out to info@renewwisconsin.org.
The River Food Pantry is proud to serve all residents of Dane County.
by Tiana Snyder | Jan 17, 2025 | Solar, Solar for Good
On Monday, January 13, Gilda’s Club Madison invited representatives from RENEW Wisconsin, Couillard Solar Foundation, Only in Wisconsin, Glow Solar, and their members to join in the celebration of a monumental achievement. Gilda’s Club with the help of its supporters installed a solar array that will offset 100% of its electrical usage.
Gilda’s Club was established in 1991 to honor the late comedian, Gilda Radner, with a mission to uplift and strengthen people who are impacted by cancer by providing support, fostering compassionate communities, and breaking down barriers to care. In 2008, Gilda’s Club Madison opened its doors to the Wisconsin community, becoming one of many worldwide affiliates. Over the years, the organization has been a foundational resource for its members in providing free counseling services, social events such as a brunch club, field trips across Dane County, equestrian therapy, and more.
Glow Solar installed a 31.4-kilowatt solar system. John Reinders, President of Glow Solar shared, “At Glow Solar, we love working with non-profits to design and implement renewable energy solutions that fit their individual goals. In the case of Gilda’s Club, we helped them design and install a system that will meet their goals to offset 100% of their annual electric usage, look great on their building, and continue to serve their clients without worrying about escalating energy costs. The grants from Focus on Energy and Solar for Good help make it a great time for non-profits like Gilda’s Club to pursue their renewable energy goals.”
For many, going solar is a viable opportunity to continue helping their members thrive without having to reduce support for their mission. With the availability of direct pay incentives for nonprofits, organizations like Gilda’s Club Madison are able to enhance their sustainability initiatives and focus more funding toward their mission by going solar. In addition to taking advantage of federal and state funding, the solar project also received support from BIOFerm, Only in Wisconsin (the charitable arm of New Glarus Brewing Company), and Solar for Good, a program funded and founded by the Couillard Solar Foundation and managed by RENEW Wisconsin.
In reflecting on the long-term impact solar will have on their community, the CEO of Gilda’s Club Madison, Lannia Stenz shared, “We are thrilled to install solar panels at Gilda’s Club Madison, taking a meaningful step toward sustainability and reducing our environmental footprint! This project is a testament to the power of community—thank you to Solar for Good and everyone who made this possible. Your support not only brightens our future but also ensures that Gilda’s Club can continue offering vital resources to those facing cancer, free of charge, for many years to come.”
Beyond solar serving as a responsible financial decision, it’s also an investment in the health and sustainability of Wisconsin communities. In the case of Gilda’s Club Madison, their decision to go solar contributes to cleaner air by reducing carcinogenic air pollutants and offers a promise to their members that they can continue providing support to families and individuals living with cancer. This celebration serves as an important reminder for Wisconsin that when mission-driven organizations, residents, and businesses collectively make an investment in clean energy, they are also making a direct investment into their communities.
by RENEW Wisconsin | Jan 16, 2025 | Renewables, Solar
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has approved the Maple Grove Solar project, a 260-megawatt (MW) project with a 50 MW battery which will be located in Barron County, Wisconsin. Commissioned by ibV Energy Partners, this project will produce enough energy to power more than 30,000 homes.
Along with getting us another step closer to our decarbonization goals, Maple Grove Solar will produce significant economic benefits for the surrounding area. During its construction phase, an estimated 608 jobs — 286 of them being local — will be created. Upon completion, the project will support just under 30 long-term jobs with 18 of them being local. In addition, the county and towns that host this project will receive a $1.3 million boost in new yearly tax revenue.
RENEW Wisconsin staff have advocated for the project since it was proposed. Our policy team provided expert testimony and analysis in support of the project, which helped the PSC reach their decision. While sharing the reasoning behind their decision, PSC Commissioner Kristy Nieto directly referenced RENEW staff testimony.
RENEW’s testimony highlighted the various economic advantages of the project along with the benefits for farmers, expected emissions reductions, and general health.
- Projects like this help to keep farms with families thanks to diversified revenue from the land leases
- More than 400,000 short tons of carbon emissions will be avoided in the first year of the project’s operation
- The reduction of emissions can limit additional strain on the rural healthcare system by reducing pollutant-related illnesses
The construction of Maple Grove Solar is expected to be completed sometime in 2029.
by RENEW Wisconsin | Dec 12, 2024 | Renewables, Solar
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) has approved the Vista Sands solar project at its full size of 1.3 gigawatts. The impact of this decision is difficult to overstate, as this project alone will reduce the carbon emissions of our state’s electric sector by nearly 5 percent. This would mean the removal of 1.7 million short tons of carbon emissions each year by producing enough solar energy to power nearly 250,000 typical Wisconsin homes.
The project also has significant economic benefits and is expected to create about 2,200 jobs during the construction period along with 165 long-term jobs. In all the project is estimated to increase Wisconsin’s long-term economic output by more than $50 million. Local governments within the project area will also benefit from annual utility aid payments of $6.5 million through the course of the project’s life.
RENEW Wisconsin staff and our supporters have advocated for the project since it was proposed by the developer, Doral Renewables, LLC. Our policy team provided expert testimony and analysis in support of the project, which helped the PSC reach their decision to approve it. In their decision on Thursday, December 12, the PSC affirmed the collaborative efforts of the developer as it navigated competing opinions surrounding the project.
The project was at risk of being subjected to half-mile setbacks from the Buena Vista Wildlife Area, which would have significantly reduced its size and put the economics of the project in jeopardy. The request for the setback came out of concern for the greater prairie chicken, a threatened species of bird.
RENEW recognizes the need for balance as we work to meet our decarbonization goals and we agree with the PSC that the Doral provided robust collaboration with the many parties interested in the project and surrounding area. Around 90 percent of the project is located more than half a mile from the wildlife area and the developer has set aside additional habitat for greater prairie chicken populations. The developer also eliminated most of the above-ground transmission in their plan, will install bird diverters on fencing, and will fund the maintenance of existing conservation land.
Now that it’s approved, the project is expected to break ground in the spring of next year with an estimated completion date of December 2028. This project sets a new bar for future solar installations across the state.
by Tiana Snyder | Nov 21, 2024 | Press Release, RENEW Wisconsin, Solar, Solar for Good
The Solar for Good grant program has awarded over $220,000 in grants and solar panel donations to Wisconsin nonprofit organizations for the Fall 2024 grant round. The 14 nonprofits will install 16 projects for a total of 1,000 kilowatts of solar electricity, leading to more than $2.3 million in renewable energy investments in Wisconsin.
The following organizations have been awarded Fall 2024 Solar for Good grants to install new solar energy
systems:
CAP Services, Inc. – community service, Stevens Point
COULEECAP, Inc. Hillcrest Manor – affordable housing, Ontario
COULEECAP, Inc. REACH – community service, La Crosse
EAGLE School of Madison – education, Fitchburg
Family and Children’s Center – community service, La Crosse
Family Services of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, Inc. – community service, Beloit
Holy Spirit Parish – house of worship, Stevens Point
Hunger Task Force – community service, West Milwaukee
Ozaukee Food Alliance – community service, Saukville
Recreation and Fitness Resources Center – recreation, Bayfield
Union Congregational United Church of Christ – house of worship, Green Bay
VIA CDC – affordable housing, Milwaukee
West Central Wisconsin Community Action Agency – affordable housing, Hudson
*One organization has asked to remain anonymous.
The grant recipients from the Fall 2024 grant round are a diverse range of organizations, representing affordable housing organizations, schools, and houses of worship. Each facility’s solar project will have a significant impact on their budgets, and will allow them to focus more funds on their missions. Holy Spirit Parish will install 90 panels atop their place of worship in Stevens Point, Family Services of Southern Wisconsin will incorporate 69.6kW of solar to their rooftop, and VIA CDC will install solar systems of 5.33 kilowatts on three housing projects in Milwaukee.
“We are thrilled and deeply grateful for this opportunity through RENEW Wisconsin’s Solar for Good initiative. This support allows us to further our mission with VIA’s Turnkey Program and new construction housing, making a lasting, positive impact on our community through sustainable energy,” said JoAnna Bautch, Executive Director at VIA CDC.
Similarly, the Solar for Good grant will allow Family Services of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois to continue serving families in need by reducing operational costs and allocating more funding to programming.
“This funding has allowed us to equip our Next Steps Family Resilience Center with solar power that will be vital to the long-term sustainability of this programming for unhoused parents with young children while also contributing to a healthier community overall,” said Kelsey M. Hood-Christenson, President and CEO, of Family & Children’s Services of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.
Since 2017, Solar for Good has awarded grants to over 200 nonprofits across Wisconsin, leading to more than $29.4 million of renewable energy investments in the state. Collectively, Solar for Good grant recipients will go on to install more than 10 megawatts of solar energy.
“We are most grateful to the Couillard Solar Foundation for awarding us half the solar panels we need for installation of our solar array at Holy Spirit Parish in Stevens Point,” said Susan Zach Burns, Solar Project Lead of Holy Spirit Parish. “By reducing our reliance on fossil fuel and turning to solar for a good share of our energy needs, we are joining with you and others to address greenhouse gas emissions and to care for our common home, our beautiful Earth.”
“Our congregation has been energized literally and figuratively by our solar installation and our grant from Solar for Good. Not only will our installation reduce the carbon footprint of our church, it has inspired our members to invest in solar and other climate-friendly initiatives as well,” said Reverand Bridget Flad Daniels, Union Congregational UCC of Green Bay.
Through the assistance from Solar for Good grants, these 16 installations will accelerate Wisconsin’s transition to solar energy, facilitating the expansion of environmental stewardship and energy savings. As Solar for Good looks ahead to future grant rounds, the program will remain committed to supporting nonprofits and houses of worship across the state of Wisconsin by supporting organizations in their efforts to contribute to a positive environmental impact, enhance economic advancement in Wisconsin, and strengthen their ability to aid the communities they serve.
by Tiana Snyder | Nov 11, 2024 | Solar, Solar for Good
On Friday, November 1, Cooperative Education Services Agency 10 (CESA 10) celebrated the completion of its new 124.2-kilowatt solar array during their ribbon-cutting ceremony. Member school districts, Solar Connection, the Green Team, Couillard Solar Foundation, and RENEW Wisconsin joined the event to celebrate this significant milestone. The organization’s commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability in education sets a strong example for school districts and surrounding communities on the benefits of renewable energy and how they can go solar too.
Solar Connection installed a ground-mount solar system consisting of 235 solar panels with 115 panels secured through the Solar for Good grant program. The solar system is set to offset the organization’s electrical consumption by approximately 75%. The successful installation of this project was made possible through dedicated support from the CESA 10 team and support from funding sources. Additionally, the team took advantage of federal and state incentives including the Inflation Reduction Act and Focus on Energy.
Serving 29 school districts and more than 36,000 students, CESA 10 plays a crucial role in offering educational programs and services, ranging from college readiness programs to educational technology and facilities management. Choosing to go solar reflects a key part of their mission in helping schools reduce operational costs so that greater resources can be allocated to enriching the educational experience of students. Its new solar array will not only reduce its own operational costs, but also demonstrate to educators, students, and the broader community the long-term benefits of clean renewable energy.
Going solar is the latest step in CESA 10’s broader sustainability initiatives, but their journey into greater energy efficiency began several years ago. In recent years, they have also undertaken several energy efficiency upgrades including adding LED lighting, improving installation, and replacing roofs of its facilities. Each efficiency upgrade adds up to have a significant positive impact, including lower operating costs and a smaller carbon footprint. With the solar panels recently commissioned, the organization consistently plans to work towards further energy improvements.
Through their efforts, CESA 10 is not only benefiting their own facility but also contributing to a future where solar energy plays a larger role in Wisconsin’s schools. As a leader in showcasing the tools accessible to educators, this project encourages others to consider how they can explore clean energy solutions to enhance their efforts in serving students and having a positive environmental impact.