by RENEW Wisconsin | Feb 5, 2024 | Community, Events, RENEW Wisconsin
On Thursday, February 1, RENEW held our 13th annual Renewable Energy Summit, presented by Arch Solar and Invenergy. More than 700 Attendees from across Wisconsin, the Midwest, and even around the globe joined us as we discussed how to unleash the power of Wisconsin’s clean energy potential.
Our amazing cast of panelists, presenters, and guest speakers covered:
- Emerging Technologies: Delve into the latest breakthroughs in clean energy technologies, from advanced renewables to energy storage and grid innovations.
- Economic Transformation: Explore how the clean energy sector is reshaping Wisconsin’s economy, generating jobs, and fostering economic growth.
- Community Power: Hear how community-led clean energy initiatives empower local residents to actively participate in the energy transition.
- Energy Policy and Legislation: Gain insights into Wisconsin’s evolving energy policies and regulations and hear from policymakers and legal experts about the opportunities and challenges facing the clean energy sector.
- Rural and Urban Integration: Showcase successful strategies for bridging the urban-rural divide in clean energy adoption and development.
- Inclusive Sustainability: Focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion in the clean energy sector to ensure that everyone benefits from its growth.
- Clean Energy Workforce Development: Focus on building a skilled workforce to meet the demands of a growing clean energy sector and create high-quality jobs.
- Educational Catalyst: Examine the role of education and research institutions in driving clean energy innovation and workforce development.
- Resilient Infrastructure: Address the importance of building resilient energy systems capable of withstanding disruptions and extreme weather events.
- Investment and Financing: Explore investment opportunities and financing models that support the scaling of clean energy projects.
- Collaborative Partnerships: Encourage collaboration between government, industry, academia, and local communities to foster a thriving clean energy ecosystem.
We were also joined by the likes of Tonya Hicks, Robert Blake, and State Representative Supreme Moore Omokunde. Tonya Hicks shared with attendees not only how we can go about building a diverse workforce, but why it is necessary for the success of the industry. Robert Blake talked about the potential of existing renewable energy technologies and how the industry can go about finding the workers needed to achieve that potential. And Supreme Moore Omokunde closed out the Summit with a reminder that our transition to clean energy should be equitable, and that we must ensure access to renewables for low-income and minority communities.
Attendees also learned that this would be the last RENEW Wisconsin Summit with Michael Vickerman joining us as a RENEW staff member. Though Michael does plan to retire this spring, he has promised that this won’t be the last we hear from him. Michael’s role at RENEW and in Wisconsin’s renewable energy industry cannot be understated and we’re excited to see what he gets up to in his retirement.
We are proud to say that our Summit continues to grow in size and scope. The energy and engagement at this year’s summit were inspiring, and it’s all thanks to the sponsors, volunteers, speakers, attendees, and everyone else who joins us each year to make it happen!
by Alex Beld | Jan 23, 2024 | RENEW Wisconsin
January 22, 2024, Madison, Wis. — During its 13th annual Renewable Energy Summit, RENEW Wisconsin, with presenting sponsors Arch Solar and Invenergy, will honor those who made significant and lasting impacts on Wisconsin’s clean energy industry. The Summit will take place Thursday, February 1, 2024, at Monona Terrace in Madison.
RENEW’s 2024 Summit, titled “Unleashing the Power of Wisconsin’s Clean Energy Potential,” gathers industry experts, policymakers, innovators, and community leaders dedicated to accelerating the transition to clean energy sources. Featured speakers include Tonya Hicks, CEO of Power Solutions, Inc., and Robert Blake, Owner of Solar Bear and Executive Director of Native Sun Community Power Development.
The awards are grouped under three categories:
- Clean Energy Champion: Maria Drews, Co-owner – Drews Solar
- RENEW Member of the Year: Full Spectrum Solar – Madison WI
- Energy Reporting Excellence: Jana Rose Schleis, Enterprise and Investigative Reporter – The Cap Times
The ceremony will conclude with the 2023 Clean Energy Honor Roll, in which RENEW will recognize 13 clean energy projects in Wisconsin that recently commenced operation. Whether on the basis of their productivity, innovativeness, attention to detail, scale, resourcefulness, or efficacy in reducing carbon emissions, these projects showcase the skills and know-how Wisconsin stakeholders bring to the clean energy marketplace.
Clean Energy Honor Roll:
Alliant Energy Solar Portfolio, Dodge, Grant, Green, Jefferson, Rock, Sheboygan, and Waushara Counties
Eight solar PV power plants – 639 megawatts.
- Badger Hollow, Iowa County
The largest solar PV power plant in Wisconsin – 300 megawatts.
- Bayfield County, Bayfield County
Microgrid project that integrates solar PV, battery storage, and an existing backup diesel generator.
- City of Madison, Dane County
Nine (9) behind-the-meter solar PV installations – 585 kilowatts.
- College of Menominee Nation, Menominee County
Ground-mount solar PV array – 40 kilowatts.
- Holy Wisdom Monastery, Dane County
Net-zero project featuring onsite solar, with battery storage, and ground-source heat pumps.
- McFarland Public Safety Building, Dane County
Net-zero building featuring onsite solar and ground-source heat pumps.
- Red Barn Wind Energy Center, Grant County
Wind power plant – 91.6 megawatts.
- Sheboygan Senior Community, Sheboygan County
Ground-mounted solar array & battery – 198 kilowatts.
- SolarShare Wisconsin, Juneau County
Two cooperatively-owned solar arrays – 4.5 megawatts.
- UW-Health Eastpark Medical Center Garage, Dane County
Solar PV parking canopy – 1,032 kilowatts.
- UW-Parkside, Kenosha County
Ground-mounted solar PV array – 2.1 megawatts.
- Yahara Solar, Dane County
Largest solar array built for one customer – 17 megawatts.
The 13th Renewable Energy Summit will also feature an exposition hall with nearly 50 exhibitors, breakout sessions, and industry professionals discussing current and future opportunities for advancing clean energy in Wisconsin. Nearly 100 organizations have also voiced their support of renewable energy by sponsoring the summit. For more information on the 2024 Summit program agenda, speakers, sponsors, registration, or press passes, please email Alex Beld (abeld@renewwisconsin.org).
by Ismaeel Chartier | Dec 18, 2023 | RENEW Wisconsin
RENEW Wisconsin has partnered with Madison Community Foundation (MCF) to offer a charitable gift annuity.
What is a charitable gift annuity?
Like other annuities, a charitable gift annuity offers a regular stream of income on an initial investment until your death. However, charitable gift annuities are a form of planned giving and therefore differ from other annuities in several ways.
Here is how the charitable gift annuity works:
- You make a donation to a nonprofit organization, such as RENEW Wisconsin, and take a partial tax deduction.
- MCF, as the holder of the annuity funds, invests the funds on behalf of RENEW Wisconsin and pays you (the annuitant) a regular payment until your death. A portion of this income also may be tax-exempt.
- After your death, the balance of the invested funds goes to the nonprofit organization (RENEW Wisconsin, in this case).
The amount of your tax deduction depends on a number of factors, including your age at the time you establish the charitable gift annuity, the size of your donation, and whether the annuity is for a single person or a couple. You should consult with your tax advisor to determine the specific tax benefits for your situation.
Who can set up a charitable gift annuity?
The gift annuity is available for donors who are 60 and older. MCF requires an initial investment of $10,000 and offers an interest rate on the gift that ranges from 4.3% for a single 60-year-old to 9.3% for a couple who are both 95 and older. (There is no upper limit on investments.)
Whatever is left in the fund at the time of your death will be put into RENEW’s endowment fund with MCF. This fund supports Energy Analysis & Policy (EAP) graduate student interns at UW-Madison’s Nelson Institute who are working at RENEW. The endowment was created by an MCF grant and gifts from EAP alumni and RENEW members a few years ago.
As an example, a 71-year-old, single RENEW member recently established a gift annuity with MCF for RENEW. He made an initial investment of $10,526. Based on his age and the amount of his initial investment, his annuity earns an interest rate of 5.7%, or $600 a year, which is paid quarterly. He was eligible to take a tax deduction of $3,527, and $460 of the annual income is tax-free.
The gift annuity is ideal for people who are older than 60, looking for a higher interest rate than offered by certificates of deposit (CDs) for their savings, and who want to support a nonprofit, even after death. The charitable gift annuity through MCF is designed to have a residual amount of at least 50% of the original gift for the charity. In 2017, the average amount left for charities from charitable gift annuities using the same rates (those recommended by the American Council on Gift Annuities) was 62% of the initial contribution.
For more information, contact Ismaeel Chartier at RENEW Wisconsin (815.319.5985 or ismaeel@renewwisconsin.org) or David Koehler at MCF (608.232.1763 or dkoehler@madisongives.org).
*interest rates are subject to change
by Julia Holzschuh | Oct 31, 2023 | Membership, RENEW Wisconsin
WHAT IS THE RENEW WISCONSIN COMMUNITY PLATFORM?
The RENEW Wisconsin Community Platform is being launched for our new and renewing business members! The Community Platform launched on November 1, 2023, and gives our business members unprecedented opportunities for industry-specific knowledge, opportunities, and connections.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE?
The platform creates a space for RENEW business members to connect with each other, expand networks, share stories, and explore industry content that interests you. RENEW’s community platform lets users participate in events, react to our news feed, and join groups they feel closest to.
WHO CAN JOIN AND HOW?
Any of RENEW’s business members are welcome to join the portal. To join, please navigate to the portal and submit a request to join. From there, the RENEW team will approve or deny the request. When approved, users will be prompted to complete their profile set-up, including adding the business they are associated with, joining the groups that interest them, and exploring the robust community within the platform.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS?
The RENEW Wisconsin Community Platform brings many benefits, including access to all other business members, organizations, industry-specific events, news, conversations, and more! Members can also promote job opportunities, join groups that interest them, and start conversation forums.
by Julia Holzschuh | Oct 27, 2023 | Membership, RENEW Wisconsin
RENEW Wisconsin has updated our business member benefits to provide the industry partners who support us, with the tools they need to thrive. As members, they are a part of something bigger, an organized voice that advocates for clean energy in the Badger State.
Our updated membership benefits package aims to not only give our business members tools but also create more opportunities for them to connect and work together.
Membership with RENEW is about more than just advocacy; it’s about supporting the clean energy industry as a whole, and this mission would not be possible without the collaboration of our members.
How We’re Supporting Our Business Members:
- Access to RENEW Wisconsin’s Community Portal
- Educational Webinars
- Networking Events
- Thought Leadership Opportunities
- Event Discounts
- One-on-one Meetings with RENEW Staff
We are particularly excited about our Community Platform. This digital portal is designed with our business members in mind. It’s our aim to facilitate engagement and collaboration within our clean energy community.
By supporting and bringing together our members we can foster a dynamic community of renewable energy champions, that will create an environment where they can connect, grow, and shape Wisconsin’s renewable energy future.
by Michael Vickerman | Sep 13, 2023 | PSC Priorities, Public Service Commission, RENEW Wisconsin, Renewables, Solar, Utilities
A 200-megawatt (MW) solar project, Silver Maple Solar, has been proposed in Fond du Lac and Winnebago Counties. If approved, Silver Maple Solar is expected to begin producing enough clean energy to power 35,000 Wisconsin homes by the end of 2025.
Solar power projects larger than 100 MW must gain approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) before they can proceed to construction. Along the way, there are opportunities for public comment, including at the PSCW. Earlier this summer, RENEW Wisconsin submitted testimony in support of Silver Maple Solar to the PSCW. Now that the public comment period is open, you can share your support for this project as well.
Silver Maple Solar represents a significant economic investment in rural southeastern Wisconsin, providing steady revenues to area landowners and communities while generating emission-free renewable electricity for more than 30 years. The developer of the project, Leeward Renewable Energy, has provided a high-level overview and a map of the project to help the public better understand its benefits.
Since 2019, the PSCW has issued approvals for 17 solar power projects across Wisconsin, totaling 3,249 MW. With the addition of Silver Maple, solar energy will make up 10% of Wisconsin’s electricity production, the highest share for a state in the Upper Midwest.
Help us demonstrate Wisconsin’s enthusiastic support for projects like this by submitting a comment in support of Silver Maple Solar. Be sure to specifically reference the project and the benefits that it can bring to Wisconsin. The deadline to submit comments is October 13, 2023.
We’ve included a sample message to help you get started. Please keep in mind that the PSCW allows one comment per case and that customizing your message will have a greater impact.
Sample Comment
I’m writing in support of the Silver Maple Solar, under review in Docket No. 9813-CE-100. This project would support local economies and keep energy dollars in state by producing homegrown, renewable energy right here in Wisconsin.
Beyond the economic benefits, the Silver Maple Solar project will also help to displace carbon dioxide, support grid stability, and provide Wisconsinites with an affordable source of electricity. With available land and appropriate infrastructure, projects like this make sense for Wisconsin.
I respectfully encourage the PSCW to rule that Silver Maple Solar is in the public interest and issue a permit enabling the project to proceed to construction. Thank you for your consideration of my views.