RENEW is dedicated to increasing access to the benefits of renewable energy for everyone in the Badger State. To accelerate the clean energy transition, we are focusing on the following key policy priorities:
Affirming the legality of third-party financing
Third-party financing is a solution to the barrier of upfront costs associated with renewable energy projects and makes ‘going solar’ an accessible option for low to middle-income homeowners, churches, government agencies, and nonprofits. Legal clarity on third-party financing is essential to expand access to clean energy. Learn more at wisolarcoalition.com.
Implementing fair and clear distributed generation policies
Breweries, farms, manufacturers, solar companies, families, congregations, and others produce clean energy that benefits the electric grid. RENEW is working to ensure that electricity is valued fairly by advocating for improvements on net metering, parallel generation rates, and interconnection rules. If we get these policies right, Wisconsin can reach its clean energy potential.
Expanding Community Solar
Community solar is a simple solution that enables residential, commercial, and large energy customers to shift to renewables and reduce energy bills. Presently, 21 states have policies supporting community solar, but Wisconsin lacks a similar framework. Learn more at wisolarcoalition.com.
Building A Roadmap for Wisconsin’s Zero Carbon Future
RENEW is partnering with Clean Wisconsin and GridLab to conduct a zero-carbon grid study for the PSC’s consideration.
Our analysis will help answer the following questions:
- What is the right mix of renewable resources in-state and out-of-state?
- What is a reasonable balance between utility-scale and distributed solar resources?
- How much transmission capacity is needed to achieve a zero-carbon future?
- What will be the health, jobs, and economic impacts as we make this clean grid transition?
Learn more about Wisconsin’s Clean Energy Plan HERE.
Submit a Comment in Support of the Silver Maple Solar Project
If approved, Silver Maple is expected to begin producing clean power by the end of 2025. As designed, Silver Maple would supply homegrown, affordable, emission-free electricity to power the equivalent of approximately 35,000 homes.
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Protect Rooftop Solar in Wisconsin
Net metering is a utility billing policy that enables customers who generate electricity from their own solar systems to receive a bill credit for any energy they export to the grid. This arrangement encourages residential and business customers to invest in solar...
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Regulators Allow Wisconsin Family to Host Third-Party-Owned Solar System
Public Service Commission affirms the legality of a private contract between a utility customer and a solar provider For a central Wisconsin family seeking to supply their home with affordable solar power, December 1, 2022, was a day worth celebrating. The Public...
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Supporters Of Clean Energy And Distributed Generation, It’s Time To Weigh In.
RENEW has assembled a team of experts to develop a comprehensive framework of Distributed Generation (DG) buyback rates as a counter-proposal to utility applications. DG buyback rates determine payments for ALL non-utility-owned electricity generation at the...
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Two Petitions Filed to Affirm Customer Access to Third Party-Financed Renewable Power Generated Onsite
On May 26th two petitions were filed at the Public Service Commission (PSC) seeking rulings to clarify the long-simmering issue of third party-financed renewable energy generation serving individual customers behind their meters. In one of the petitions (Docket No....
read moreRENEW’s legisltive focus includes clean energy financing, electric vehicles, community solar, third-party financing, net metering and energy storage.
Clean Energy Legislative Update • March 2025
The 2025 legislation is starting to heat up, there are plenty of legislative issues moving through the legislature
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Clean Energy Legislative Update • January 2025
Working with the state legislature is both an art and a science — utilizing expertise and seizing opportunities, as well as continuous relationship-building.
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Clean Energy Legislative Update • November 2024
Now that Election Day is behind us; some people are happy with the results, some are not. While others are still awaiting the results of narrow victories and anticipating recounts in others.
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Clean Energy Legislative Update • August 2024
Voters turned out at levels not seen in 60 years for this year’s primary to make their voices heard on several important statewide issues!
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Clean Energy Legislative Update • July 2024
Wisconsin’s primary election is an opportunity to have your voice heard on which local and national candidates you think best align with your view. This year voters also have a say in how the state decides to spend federal dollars.
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Help Ensure a Smooth Application Process for Badger Hollow Wind
The Badger Hollow Wind Energy project in Iowa and Grant counties, Wisconsin, will generate clean, Wisconsin-made energy to help meet our state’s growing electricity demand. Ensure the approval process for this project starts strong by submitting comments...
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Action Alert: Show Support for Wisconsin’s Largest Solar Farm
A more than 1,300-megawatt (MW) solar project, Vista Sands Solar, has been proposed in Portage County. If approved, Vista Sands Solar would be the largest solar farm constructed in the state of Wisconsin.
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Action Alert: Vista Sands Solar Development At Risk
A draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) created by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin regarding Vista Sands Solar Farm and is missing a discussion of solar’s impact on reducing carbon...
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Submit Comments to the PSC and Show Support for Net Metering and Fair Solar Compensation Rates from Municipal Electric Utilities
Sturgeon Bay Utilities (SBU) has filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to revise its parallel generation tariffs.
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Action Alert: Tell Your Senator to Confirm PSC Commissioner Tyler Huebner
The Wisconsin State Senate will vote on Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) Commissioner Tyler Huebner’s appointment this week. Help us keep Wisconsin moving forward by urging your State Senator to vote to confirm Commissioner Huebner.With the recently...
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Protect Rooftop Solar in Wisconsin
Net metering is a utility billing policy that enables customers who generate electricity from their own solar systems to receive a bill credit for any energy they export to the grid. This arrangement encourages residential and business customers to invest in solar...
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Sustaining Gilda’s Club Madison Through Solar
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.
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Fall 2024 Solar for Good Grant Awards
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...
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CESA 10 Serving Schools & Going Solar
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.
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Solar Solutions for Sugar Creek Lutheran Church
On October 20, 2024, Sugar Creek Lutheran Church opened its doors to welcome congregation members, nonprofit leaders, and representatives from other houses of worship to explore its new solar system.
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Solar Ignites Change for First Presbyterian Church
On Sunday, October 13, 2024, First Presbyterian Church hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its new 139.86-kilowatt solar array.
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