Solar energy presents an incredible opportunity for Wisconsin homes, businesses, institutions, and electric utilities. We can choose an energy source that we can all feel good about, while lowering our costs and keeping our energy dollars local.
Solar Installed (MW)
Equivalent Number of Homes Powered by Solar
Solar Companies in State
Wisconsin Solar Jobs
Go Solar, Anywhere in Wisconsin
We advocate for rules and policies that make clean energy available and affordable to you. Looking to install solar power at your home, business, or nonprofit organization? Wisconsin is fortunate to be served by a strong network of high-quality, homegrown solar installation firms located throughout the state. Check out our map so you can find the closest solar installers to you.
Focus on Energy
For residential, business, and nonprofit customers who want to install solar energy systems, we advocate for continued funding for rebates through the Focus on Energy statewide program. Our latest victory in 2016 delivered $8.6 million in rebates, which we estimate will allow over 1200 homes and nearly 100 businesses to install solar in 2017 and 2018 combined.
Large Scale Solar
We work to expand the number of large-scale solar projects so that, over time, we can replace Wisconsin’s aging power plants with clean, renewable energy. To make this happen we partner with solar developers and power companies to chart the path forward. We encourage utilities to partner with companies that want to develop more clean energy at scale, and we support win-win solar development with a voluntary pollinator-friendly standard that will enable bees, birds, and soil to thrive where solar development sprouts up.
Net Metering
We protect net metering which allows customers with their own solar panels to get full credit for generating solar energy.
Clean Energy Transmission
To maximize the usage of wind energy in Wisconsin and the Midwest, we need to make sure new wind farms can get their renewable electricity to the grid. Clean energy transmission lines connect our energy consumers with wind energy that can increasingly power our future. Two regional “MVP” (Multi-Value Portfolio) Projects support this wind expansion for Wisconsin: Cardinal Hickory Creek and Badger Coulee.
Solar for Good
RENEW Wisconsin’s Solar for Good initiative fosters the expansion of solar power among mission-based nonprofits and houses of worship in Wisconsin.
Through a generous partnership with local philanthropists Cal and Laurie Couillard, RENEW Wisconsin awards solar panels to nonprofit organizations to assist them in installing solar PV systems. Solar for Good also offers small grants for technical assistance to get projects started and see them through to success. Solar for Good helps publicize funded projects to spread the word and educate Wisconsin about the benefits of solar.
Faith and Solar
We have teamed up with Wisconsin Green Muslims to share the benefits of solar energy with houses of worship in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Green Muslims hosts a series of workshops across the state to bring people together around the power of solar energy for people of faith.
MadiSUN
RENEW Wisconsin works on behalf of the City of Madison to administer the MadiSUN Solar Programs to increase the number of residences in the City of Madison with solar systems. The Group Buy for Rooftop Solar program allows residents to use collective buying power to bring down the cost of a solar installation, while having the opportunity to get all questions answered by experienced installers.
Case Study
Residential Solar
Thais Passos and David Toland installed solar on their home, with help from the MadiSUN solar group buy. “It’s great! We are even happier than we thought we’d be with installing solar.” To learn more about solar for homes, see our Resources below.
Case Study
American Family Insurance
American Family Insurance, a multi-line insurer headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin and a Fortune 500 company, partnered with SunPeak to build the largest rooftop solar system in the state of Wisconsin at its national headquarters. The almost 1.2MW solar photovoltaic system covers a large rooftop on the corporate campus with 4,488 solar panels. This system now generates over 7% of their energy needs.
Case Study
Tim Martinez
Martinez is a superintendent and construction manager at EcoPower, overseeing teams of solar installers across the country. His Wisconsin team of about 30 workers installs solar systems in the Milwaukee and Madison area.
Case Study
Solar for Good
Through a generous partnership with a local philanthropist, RENEW Wisconsin will award a total of $125,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations to assist them in installing solar PV. Solar for Good will also offer small grants for technical assistance to get projects started and see them through to success.
Case Study
Erik Davidsen
Erik is a master electrician and an 18-year career veteran at Staff Electric, managing the company’s solar installs in the Milwaukee area. Currently, he’s working on projects at Badger Meter and Lakefront Brewery.
Case Study
Dairyland Power Cooperative and SoCore Energy
In 2015-2017, Dairyland Power Cooperative collaborated with SoCore Energy to build an 18 MWac portfolio of ground mount solar projects across 14 sites plus 1.6 MWac of community solar projects across 9 sites in Wisconsin and Iowa.
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Case Study
Veritas Village, LLC
Veritas Village, LLC, a T. Wall Enterprises development, has completed one of the largest multi-family solar installations in the state of Wisconsin. The 190 kWdc rooftop system includes 704 solar panels, and will offset 69% of their energy needs.
Case Study
Kim Griffin
Kim Griffin may be new to the solar industry, but her past experience as a classroom teacher has helped prepare her for the job. But Kim was looking for something different that would put her skills to use outside of the classroom and keep the paychecks coming in the summer months.
Case Study
Kaukauna Fire Department
The 89.6 kW PV Solar at Kaukauna Fire Department building roof started producing energy in February, 2018. The PV Solar system is net metered whereby if there is excess energy it will go into the Kaukauna Utilities distribution system.
Case Study
McMillan Library
In the Summer of 2017, McMillan Memorial Library installed a 235 kW rooftop solar array. Due to innovative financing, the $420,000 project is mostly paid for. Viking Electric, and its owner Scott Prahl, funded much of the project and will utilize the associated tax credits. The Library Endowment also contributed funds for the project and the Library is relying on community support for the remainder of the costs.
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