Wisconsin Residents Urge PSC to Reconsider Funding Suspension
Immediate Release –
Between August 2nd
and yesterday, more than 630 individuals, businesses and organizations
submitted comments urging the Public Service Commission (PSC) not to
suspend Focus on Energy incentives for solar and small wind energy
systems. The comments were posted following a preliminary PSC decision
to suspend solar and small wind incentives for the duration of 2013.
“The
overwhelming majority of Wisconsin residents favor clean energy
development, and thousands of Wisconsin citizens and companies have
built renewable energy systems with assistance from Focus on Energy,”
said Tyler Huebner, Executive Director of RENEW Wisconsin. “Judging by
the extraordinary outpouring of support for continuing incentives to
solar and small wind, it’s clear that the PSC’s move to suspend
incentives struck a nerve with the public.”
At
issue is the PSC’s decision in late July to base the level of funds
available for solar and small wind on actual expenditures instead of
obligations, which had been the standard practice with Focus on Energy’s
renewable energy program since its inception in 2002.
“There
is no need to let administrative formulas create an uncertain,
unpredictable business environment for Wisconsin’s solar and small wind
markets. There are simpler and less disruptive ways of balancing
allocations among different renewable technologies, which would allow
customers to continue accessing these incentives and our small renewable
energy installation businesses to keep their doors open.“
“Though
Focus on Energy is authorized to spend up to $10 million per year to
help customers use more renewable energy, a suspension would ensure that
funding in 2013 will fall well short of the target. We urge the PSC to
take note of this show of support for clean energy and allow funding for
solar and small wind to continue.” Huebner said.
Update: RENEW Wisconsin was contacted by the Focus on Energy Rewards Program to notify RENEW that as of Wednesday, August 14, 2013, the PSC has not issued
the final order. The Residential Rewards Program will continue to
process new reservation applications for Solar Thermal and Solar
Photovoltaic until the order has been issued OR funds have been exhausted.
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RENEW
Wisconsin is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that
leads and represents businesses, organizations, and individuals who seek
more clean renewable energy in Wisconsin. More information on RENEW’s
Web site at www.renewwisconsin.org.
Wisconsin is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that
leads and represents businesses, organizations, and individuals who seek
more clean renewable energy in Wisconsin. More information on RENEW’s
Web site at www.renewwisconsin.org.