The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the recipients of the Solar for All grants, with $124 million in funding awarded to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association (MTERA). This influx of resources will help to accelerate our state’s clean energy transition. Solar for All will increase access to renewable energy for around 15,000 Wisconsin homes, including single-family, multi-family, or community solar projects. The grant awarded to WEDC will bring $62,450,000 to the state of Wisconsin, this historic investment will ..read more

Rarely does one experience a solar-themed celebration inside a large parking garage at an active construction site, but that didn’t stop UW-Health from throwing the symbolic switch to activate a recently installed 1.1 MW solar electric parking deck at UW-Health’s Eastpark Medical Center campus. The Eastpark Medical Center is scheduled to open in fall 2024. Under a cloudless sky, luminaries such as Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and State Senator Melissa Agard joined project partners and invited guests to hear UW-Health CEO Dr. Alan Kaplan, UW-Health senior vice president Katrina Lambrecht ..read more

After a long career at RENEW Wisconsin, advocating for renewable energy across the state, Michael Vickerman has announced his retirement effective April 20, 2024. Vickerman’s professional legacy spans over 33 years and demonstrates his tireless commitment to Wisconsin’s clean energy transition. Vickerman got his start at RENEW after responding to a classified ad for a limited-term program coordinator at the nonprofit. For eight years, he served as the sole employee of the organization. He was pivotal in shaping renewable energy policy and fostering collaboration among industry stakeholders. “N ..read more

Photo Credit: Clean Economy Coalition of Wisconsin Yesterday afternoon, Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Secretary of Energy made a stop at the Wellness Commons in Milwaukee to engage in conversation with Walnut Way Conservation Corporation, Lindsay Heights residents, and community leaders. Her visit highlighted support and programs available through the Department of Energy (DOE) that will help Wisconsin continue its clean energy transition, specifically for energy justice (EJ) communities. In recent years, the DOE has recognized that low income communities and communities of color have been dispropo ..read more

Photo Credit: Dan Tronrud Dan Tronrud’s decision to install an electric vehicle (EV) charging station at his small business, Osceola Auto Body, felt like a natural progression of his adoption of renewables. It was also a decision that he felt would directly benefit his customers. The addition of the charging station provides a unique service for this rural part of Wisconsin, which both filled a need for service and gave his business an edge over area competitors. Branded as “The Juicebox,” this commercial, level 3 EV charging station is located in the parking lot of his shop, open 24 hou ..read more

On March 12, 2024, the Wisconsin State Senate passed Bill 791, allowing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to charge by unit of electricity instead of time spent charging. The bill helps provide clean energy access to all Wisconsinites and is a testament to Wisconsin’s commitment to embracing new, proven clean energy technologies. The new law addresses several critical areas to standardize EV usage and infrastructure deployment for private developers. Let’s dive into some of the key parts. NEVI Funding Unleashed The cornerstone of the bill is the activation of National Electric Vehicle I ..read more

As the legislature wraps up for this session, RENEW is celebrating several victories and reflecting on some of the other renewable energy measures being considered by the state legislature. Big Win for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Senate Bill 791, the Electric Vehicle Charging Bill, passed the legislature with several amendments. The legislation exempts private entities that develop charging stations from being regulated as a public utility but allows them to measure the cost of electricity used for charging EVs by the kilowatt hour (kWh). Establishing this new kWh standard to calculate how ..read more

Photo Credit: Walnut Way Walnut Way, Community Change Grants and how their benefits can be leveraged to reduce environmental disparities in Milwaukee’s Northside With over 20 years of experience as an environmental nonprofit in Milwaukee’s northwest side, Walnut Way Conservatory has established itself as a trusted resource for local residents and stakeholders statewide through its commitment to creating healthier, safer, and more prosperous communities. Through the EPA’s new Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants, Walnut Way has the opportunity to move forward with its mult ..read more

“About six years ago, this school district was on the verge of dissolving for a variety of reasons,” said Dr. Ryan Krohn, district administrator. “When we doubled down our efforts as a board to stay open, we said we’d invest in innovation and sustainable efforts.” In the fall of 2022, the district applied for the Clean Bus Program Grant through the EPA, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. As they charted their path forward, the leaders of the Palmyra-Eagle Area School District had to shift their thinking about the future, which ultimately led to electric buses. When the school distri ..read more

RENEW Wisconsin selected 13 projects for this year’s Honor Roll. These projects and the organizations involved in them demonstrate leadership, ambition, and climate awareness in their design and use of clean energy. ALLIANT ENERGY (WPL) SOLAR PORTFOLIO In 2023, Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin utility placed in service eight utility-scale solar plants totaling 639 megawatts as part of its Clean Energy Blueprint. By the end of the year, Alliant had finished work on 11 of the 12 projects in its solar portfolio. When the final solar plant is completed this summer, they will together generate approx ..read more