What if someone told you that you could save money on your electric bill by getting a small solar array that can fit on your balcony or patio? It is possible — just not in Wisconsin. At least not explicitly.

Millions of such systems have been installed in Europe, giving people the option to use solar energy to offset some of the electricity they use. Because electrical systems differ here, several manufacturers are developing comparable products for use in the U.S. Meeting electrical safety standards is one of the most important steps in making these products ready for balconies, lawns, and the like across the country.

As these products become more widely available, it will be important to make sure you purchase ones specifically designed to meet the strict criteria of UL and the National Electrical Code. Not only to make sure you’re following established rules (once they are created), but also to keep you and your home safe.

Because these approved systems are intentionally small and limited in how much they can produce, they shouldn’t need to be approved by your utility company. These smaller solar systems produce just enough electricity to power a couple of appliances, meaning all the energy they create is used immediately.

So far, existing plug-in solar kits include all the essentials someone might need to simply plug them into an electrical outlet. The attached inverter and plug are designed to shut off when unplugged, during an outage, or when a voltage adjustment is needed.

The solar panels in these kits are the same technology as those on rooftops and solar fields. The economics of purchasing these kits and seeing real savings by buying less electricity is also pretty straightforward. So what would it take to make it explicitly legal here in Wisconsin? Creating a law that sets up rules and regulations to ensure we can safely reduce our energy bills. 

This step requires legislation to allow customers to install these systems under clear guidance. Legislation will also help to create clear rules and guidelines for safe use. Model legislation is available as a starting point, and with over 20 states introducing legislation, many examples of proposals exist, including some that have already been signed into law. A Wisconsin proposal is in the works, too.

It’s exciting to see all the enthusiasm building for balcony solar in the state, but we must keep in mind that changing public policy is not a sprint, not even a marathon, but more like a triathlon. If you want to do something before our next legislative session kicks off in January, consider speaking with some Wisconsin candidates for the upcoming elections this year. Tell them you value clean, affordable energy.

Public comments are open now through June 11 for Dawn Break Solar, a 180 Megawatt (MW) solar project paired with a 180 MW battery energy storage system. If approved, the solar project will be located in Waushara County and is planned for completion in 2029. Projects like this have a wide range of local and statewide benefits. Show your support for this project and tell the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) why you support the approval of a vital solar project in Wisconsin!

You can use some of the listed benefits below to help you craft your message.

Dawn Break Solar isn’t just about the clean energy it will produce. The 180 MW facility in Waushara County has many benefits:

Economic Growth: Dawn Break Solar is expected to create construction jobs, as well as several long-term local jobs for operations and maintenance. Landowners will also benefit from consistent lease payments during the 35-year lifespan of the project.

Community Benefits: Once in service, Dawn Break Solar will contribute more than $31.5 million in utility-aid payments. Local governments will receive $900,000 annually, with $510,000 for Waushara County and $390,000 for the Towns of Oasis, Plainfield, Deerfield, and Hancock.

Emissions Reductions: Dawn Break Solar will reduce emissions from energy production by about 600 million pounds of CO2 in the first year of operations. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, this is the equivalent of taking more than 59,100 vehicles off the road for a full year. Additionally, non-GHG emissions reductions will result in health, economic, and environmental benefits. Wisconsin can expect more than $1.3 million in economic benefits associated with public health improvements in Dawn Break Solar’s first year of operations alone.

Submit your comments today and tell the PSC you support the approval of Dawn Break Solar. Feel free to use some of the bullet points above to craft your own unique message.

All the Good We’re Doing, Together

In the nonprofit world, we spend a lot of our time planning how we will continue to fund our mission—similar to how many people spend much of their time planning how they will make ends meet.

In some cases, for those who can’t make ends meet on their own, there are nonprofits to help. They feed, house, educate, and even protect us. Through RENEW’s Solar for Good program, we have the unique opportunity to help other nonprofits, as well as schools and houses of worship.

The formula is fairly simple—we make it easier for these organizations to access solar power, reducing their energy bills and, in turn, their operating budgets. The hope is that this help allows each and every one of them to spend more of their money and time where it matters: their mission.

Ultimately, every panel that goes up on a food pantry or affordable housing development means one more person who gets to reap the benefits of renewable energy.

Hunger Task Force

In 2025, Hunger Task Force completed a 465-panel array on their new headquarters in Milwaukee. Solar for Good helped the project come to fruition with a $48,237 grant, which covered about 13% of the project cost. Thanks to a wide mix of grants, donations, and government funding, Hunger Task Force covered most of the costs of this project.

Based on projected energy savings of $29,160 per year, Hunger Task Force will pay back its out-of-pocket expenses through avoided energy costs. Each year after that, another nearly $30,000 can go toward providing healthy food to those in need in and around Milwaukee. For every dollar spent on this project, Hunger Task Force will see $1.79 come back to it over the expected life of a typical solar array.

The dollars and cents are a huge motivating factor, but for a nonprofit focused on healthy meals and stewardship, we see additional benefits that are well aligned with the core mission of Hunger Task Force. By reducing emissions, this array helps lower air pollution and mitigate the effects of climate change, both of which lead to better health outcomes for our communities.

Learn more about Hunger Task Force’s Mission to end hunger in Milwaukee and Wisconsin.

West Central Wisconsin Community Action Agency

In 2023, the West Central Wisconsin Community Action Agency (West CAP) completed a 29-kilowatt solar array at one of their low-income housing projects to reduce energy bills for families. Solar for Good provided 27 panels through our grant program, about a third of the panels needed for the array. At the time of its completion, it was projected that the array would fully meet the energy needs of the families who would live in the low-income housing project.

Since 1965, West Cap has worked to promote the self-sufficiency of low-income families in the rural communities of west central Wisconsin. Solar panel technology has become a relatively new tool in efforts like this, as it can be used to completely or nearly eliminate energy bills for families that need a hand making life more affordable.

As Peter H. Kilde, former West CAP Executive Director, put it, “Through our poverty-fighting programs, we want to help prepare families for a world less dependent on fossil-fueled energy. This funding will not only allow us to reduce carbon emissions and help our planet, but it will also ease the energy burden for low-income families so they can afford their housing for the long term.”

Learn more about West CAP’s mission to take action against poverty.

Sauk Prairie School District

In 2025, the Sauk Prairie School District completed its second of two solar arrays for a total of 350-kilowatts of power. Their goal was to reduce their energy costs and, therefore, their overall operating budget. The savings will be placed in a fund to replace the roofs of each building across the district, as well as the solar panels. Solar for Schools, now part of Solar for Good, donated 179 panels, just over 20% of the total project.

It’s expected that the array at the elementary school will produce half of the building’s energy needs. As of July 2025, the smaller installation at the high school had already saved the district $15,000 in energy bills, just 10 months into operation.

The project serves as an educational tool for students and the community, with real-time data on energy generation and savings available online.

Learn more about the Sauk Prairie School District’s arrays.

Looking Ahead

As we see electricity bills rise and fossil fuel resources impacted by global conflict, the power of a solar array is becoming greater each day. And though this work has already touched so many, there are even more organizations out there that have yet to realize the benefits of this energy source.

To keep this work moving forward, we need people like you to support this effort. Together, we can help the nonprofits and schools of Wisconsin manage their energy bills so that they can focus their resources and time on what matters most: helping our communities.

On Thursday, May 21, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) approved the Fox Solar Project. At 100 Megawatts (MW), this solar project will produce enough clean energy to power about 25,000 homes. The project is paired with a 50 MW battery energy storage system, providing the flexibility to provide power when the sun goes down.

Located in Oconto County, it is planned for completion in 2028. Projects like this have a wide range of local and statewide benefits, including economic growth, new funding for local municipalities, and reduced emissions from energy production.

Witness testimony from David Loomis of Strategic Economic Research stated that this project will create 300 temporary jobs during construction, along with an additional 20 long-term jobs related to the project’s economic activity.

Along with jobs, the project will support the surrounding communities through utility-aid payments. Over the 25-year life of the project, it is expected to contribute more than $13 million in utility aid payments to Oconto County and the Town of Morgan. Recent legislation has changed utility-aid payments to also include battery installations, which has increased the previous estimate on payments for local governments.

Beyond the economic aspects of this project, it also provides an additional source of clean, reliable energy that isn’t subject to volatile fuel prices. With this project we’re removing 304 million pounds of CO2 related to energy production in the first year of operations, and that’s just the CO2 emissions.

The amount of emissions reductions we’ll see from the project is about the same as taking almost 30,000 cars off the road. Avoided emissions, whether from energy production or our cars, means healthier air for everyone. We estimate that in Fox Solar’s first year of energy production, we’ll see $690,000 in economic benefits associated with the public health improvements we expect to see

Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their support of Fox Solar with the PSC!

Meet RENEW Wisconsin’s Spring 2026 Solar for Good Awardees

Casa Ester has been in Omro for nearly twenty years. They welcome migrant farmworker families arriving in Winnebago County, run a youth garden that donates produce to local food pantries, teach social justice education to participants in over a dozen countries, and last year alone helped more than 450 people stay housed. Every dollar they have goes toward the people who walk through their door.

When Casa Ester decided to go solar, the reasoning was clear. Spending less on electricity means more money available for families facing eviction. They, along with five other organizations, have been selected as awardees of this spring’s Solar for Good grant round. Each organization will receive a $5,000 grant to support its efforts to reduce its energy burden and carbon footprint. By going solar, they can do more to serve communities across the state.

The Spring 2026 Awardees

In Chippewa Falls, Hope Village is the only no-cost emergency shelter in Chippewa County. Since 2016, they have helped 339 people navigate housing instability, with 71% finding permanent housing on the other side. This is their second solar project, built on the success of the first. Lower energy costs mean more capacity to serve guests, run programming, and keep the doors open for people who have nowhere else to go.

In Tomah, First Congregational UCC has been working toward solar for three years. Located in Monroe County’s highest-poverty city, they run an early childhood center, support foster families, and provide meals at the free clinic. This summer, they will become the first church in Tomah to go solar and are already planning an open house where they will invite every congregation in town and ask the question they have been sitting with.

TransCenter for Youth has been running small alternative high schools in Milwaukee since 1973, serving students who have not found their footing in larger, more traditional systems. At Shalom High School, students will soon track real-time energy production from a restored solar array through a live dashboard they helped design. The energy savings go back into the school. Beyond the financial benefit, there is something meaningful about a school where students have often been told resources like this are not available to them choosing to lead on clean energy.

At Lake Mills Area School District, solar is going up across the Elementary and Middle Schools. The district also runs a senior center partnership, a multilingual learner program for immigrant families, and a student-run food pantry called The Mills. The energy savings from a project of this size are real and recurring, freeing up resources year after year to keep those programs funded and those buildings open to the full community.

In Strum, the local public library is building a timber-framed solar canopy that also serves as an outdoor learning and programming space. The savings on utilities go directly back into programming for the community. This summer, children in the reading program will learn about solar energy through hands-on activities and watch live energy production on a display inside the library. It is a thoughtful investment from a community that takes its role as a public resource seriously.

The Same Logic, Six Times Over

Six organizations. Six communities. Different missions, different zip codes, different sizes. The same logic runs through all of them: when organizations spend less on keeping the lights on, they have more to give to the people who need them most. We are proud to support each of these groups and look forward to celebrating with them at their ribbon cuttings.

Help Us Do More of This

Every organization in this cohort is doing more for their community because solar has freed up room in their budget. Solar for Good runs on the support of donors who believe clean energy should reach every corner of Wisconsin, not just the places that can easily afford it. A gift goes directly toward grants for nonprofits, schools, libraries, shelters, and faith communities doing work that matters.

Every $5,000 raised is one more organization that gets to do a little more for its community. It’s that simple.

If this work resonates with you, please consider making a gift today. Help us continue to plant solar where it matters most.

On Thursday, May 14, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin approved Muddy Creek Solar, a 322 Megawatt (MW) solar project paired with a 300 MW battery energy storage system. Developed by Geronimo Power, the project is expected to provide nearly $2 million in annual utility aid payments to local municipalities.

Geronimo Power has also shown its commitment to supporting the community that will host the project by pledging an annual $75,000 donation to local school districts. Through a Charitable Pledge Agreement, the Menomonie Area School District and the Elk Mound Area School District will receive $12,500 and $62,500, respectively, for 20 years after the project begins operations.

In addition to the direct cash benefit to local municipalities, the project is expected to create more than 800 temporary jobs during construction and more than 50 long-term jobs. Also important to consider is the direct payments to landowners who have leased their land for the life of this project.

This project shows that clean energy projects can bolster our local economies, provide our state with the energy it needs, and reduce our carbon emissions from energy generation.

In total, we expect this project to reduce emissions by 954 million pounds of CO2, the equivalent of removing 94,000 gas-powered vehicles from our roads. And that’s just the CO2.

Thanks to the reduction of CO2 and the several other greenhouse gases that fossil fuels would pump into the air we breathe, Wisconsin can expect more than $2 million in economic benefits associated with public health improvements in Muddy Creek Solar’s first year of operations alone.

This solar and battery project will provide many things Wisconsin needs—jobs, reliable energy, consistent income for landowners, more funding for our schools and local governments, and cleaner air. And when the project reaches the end of its life, the land can be returned to its prior use, whether that be agricultural, recreational, or some other purpose.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their support for this much-needed energy project. Together, we can transform how Wisconsin is powered.

But their anticipated output would not be sufficient to serve data center projects in the construction pipeline

*Guest Blog by Michael Vickerman—RENEW Wisconsin Board Member

Construction of large solar power plants in Wisconsin will accelerate throughout the decade, thanks to a series of regulatory approvals handed down over the past 12 months. Indeed, by all appearances, solar power will dominate utility investment in new sources of electric power for the foreseeable future.

In March 2026 alone, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) approved utility requests to acquire three solar projects—two in Columbia County and one in Rock County—totaling 315 megawatts (MW). When energized over the next two years, these three plants will generate more than 600,000 megawatt-hours of zero-emission electricity annually to customers. That amounts to 0.9% of electricity consumption in the Badger State. 

As shown in Table 1 below, WEC Energy and Madison Gas & Electric will add 1.265 gigawatts, or 1,265 MW, of solar power to their generation fleets over the next three years. Construction is well underway at the Koshkonong and High Noon project sites, and ground will be broken this year on the other solar plants listed in the table.

Construction is also proceeding on a 250 MW solar plant in central Wisconsin owned by Minneapolis-based Geronimo Energy. Anticipated to be placed in service later this year, the Portage Solar plant will produce electricity for the wholesale market and sell the renewable energy credits (RECs) from that generation to Microsoft, which will soon complete construction on a hyperscale data center in Racine County. When activated later this year, Microsoft’s facility will become the largest consumer of electricity in the entire state, with a baseline demand of approximately 500 MW. Microsoft will purchase all of the RECs produced by Portage Solar to offset a portion of that facility’s electricity usage. 

Utility-owned solar generating plants often come paired with battery energy storage systems (BESS) placed within the project boundaries. These installations can store up to four hours of electricity at the battery’s rated capacity. 

At the Koshkonong project, for example, the battery system is designed to accept as much as 660 MWh of electricity generated onsite. These BESS units will enable grid operators to discharge stored electricity directly into the transmission system when demand peaks later in the afternoon and evening. 

In just a handful of years, solar has emerged as the fastest-growing in-state source of electric power, and its contribution to electricity supplies now surpasses wind and hydro combined (see Table 2). Accounting for 6.6% of Wisconsin-generated electricity in 2025, solar generation could reach the 10% threshold by 2030.

Will solar growth be large enough to offset anticipated load growth driven by hyperscale data centers? 

As impressive as solar’s growth was in 2025, it wasn’t large enough to fully offset the increase in electricity consumption that occurred that year. The other generation resource that saw a significant increase in output from 2024 was coal, whose rise came at the expense of fossil methane. Factoring in other hyperscale data centers now under construction, it will be a challenge to offset rising electricity sales with new solar generation.

As applied to retail electricity customers, the term “capacity factor” is a measure of their actual electrical consumption in a year divided by its peak demand multiplied by 8,760, the number of hours in a year. The consensus estimate of a hyperscale data center’s capacity factor falls in the 75% to 80% range. 

Compared with other customer types, hyperscale data centers impose an unprecedented level of demand on the electric grids that serve them, due to the following reasons.

• Massive scale of operations serving millions of users; 
• Expansion of AI use is driving the need for high-density computing power;
• Energy-intensive cooling systems; and
• Always-on operations requiring uninterruptible electrical service.

With the above in mind, let’s estimate the power consumption from Microsoft’s Mt. Pleasant campus that will commence operations later this year. If we assume a peak load of 500 MW and a capacity factor of 75 to 80%, electricity consumption from this particular entity would range from 3.3 to 3.5 million MWh per year, or 5% of the electricity sales recorded in the entire state of Wisconsin last year. 

It would take six solar plants the size of Koshkonong–1,800 MW in total–to offset, on a MWh by MWh basis, the anticipated consumption from just the Mt. Pleasant data center alone. When the two Beaver Dam and the Port Washington data center projects are brought into the picture, the number of Koshkonong-size projects needed to offset all four hyperscalers in the pipeline would exceed 20. 

Given that, it’s fair to conclude that the data center build-out will elevate greenhouse gas emissions from Wisconsin’s electric power industry even with a robust expansion of in-state solar power. Unless something changes on the ground, this worrisome outcome, and all the unpleasant environmental and economic consequences that it will amplify, is quite literally baked into our future.

April has been a rough month for much of Wisconsin. Hail, high winds, tornadoes, and heavy rain have rolled through the state, causing real damage. Here in Madison, the storm on April 14 brought baseball-sized hail, almost three inches across!

Other parts of central and southern Wisconsin got even bigger stones. Cars were dented. Roofs were torn up. Siding was cracked. Power poles came down. And yes, some solar panels broke too.

That’s the reality of weather like this. Extreme storms damage what’s in their path, and almost nothing on the outside of a home gets a free pass when hail comes down at that size. If your panels took a hit, they may need to be repaired or replaced. That’s not great news, but it’s also not the end of the world.

If you were thinking about going solar before the storms rolled through, the storms shouldn’t change the math on that decision. The path forward, whether you’re repairing a system or building one for the first time, looks a lot like dealing with any other part of your home.

How to Get Your System Back Up and Running

When panels get damaged in a storm like this, the fix looks a lot like dealing with hail damage to your roof or siding. The process moves through a few clear steps.

Contact Your Homeowner’s Insurance and Your Installer

Both should know what happened as soon as possible. Your installer works directly with the insurance company on your behalf from there. They document the damage, walk the adjuster through what they’re seeing, and handle the repair, replacement, and reinstall. The homeowner isn’t navigating it alone.

Know Your Coverage Before a Storm Hits

Most standard homeowner’s policies cover rooftop solar under the dwelling section, but it’s worth confirming that hail and wind are listed as covered perils and that your coverage limit reflects what your system is actually worth. Some policies in hail-prone areas carry separate wind and hail deductibles, and ground-mounted systems sometimes need a separate rider, so it helps to know what your specific policy says before you need to use it.

The Rest of the System Is Built To Make This Manageable

Manufacturers test their panels to real standards. Installers know how to work with insurance companies. Each part does its job so that when something does go wrong, the path forward is clear.

Your installer can also help you sort out what’s covered by equipment warranties versus insurance, and show you how to use your monitoring app to confirm the system is performing normally after repairs.

What Hail Does to a Panel

Knowing what kind of damage you’re looking at helps you follow along when your installer comes out for an inspection.

• Visible damage is less common than people expect, but also the most obvious when it happens. Cracks, chips, or spiderwebbed glass that you can spot from the ground. The tempered glass on top of a panel is built to take a hit, which is why this kind of damage usually only shows up in the more extreme storms. Worth noting too: when a panel does break, the glass stays contained inside the panel. Solar panels are sealed between layers of plastic and held together by an aluminum frame, so cracks don’t send glass flying across your yard or your neighbor’s.
• Hidden microcracks are the ones experts worry about more. These are microscopic fractures inside the solar cells that might not affect performance right away, but can spread over time the same way a small chip in a windshield can grow into a longer crack. Left unchecked, microcracks can gradually reduce efficiency and create hot spots inside the panel. That’s why post-storm inspections matter even when a system seems to be running fine. 
• Cell and busbar damage happens beneath the surface when hail’s impact energy transfers through the glass. The busbars are the thin metal strips that carry electricity across the panel. Modern panels use many ultra-thin busbars or wires per cell, often well into double digits, which helps keep current flowing even if part of a cell takes a hit.

A cracked panel will usually still generate electricity at reduced output. If it needs to be replaced, it should be replaced. If it’s still performing within spec, it can keep running. The key is having someone qualified take a look so you know what you’re working with.

A Quick Note on the Testing

Quality solar panels are built to two main standards that work together.

• IEC 61215 is the performance and durability standard set by the International Electrotechnical Commission. It covers how a panel holds up against weather, including the hail impact testing, where technicians fire ice balls at panels using compressed air cannons. The basic test uses one-inch ice balls at high speeds, and many panels are tested even further against ice balls up to three inches across at speeds up to 88 miles per hour. To pass, the panel has to keep producing power within spec after the impact.
• UL 61730 is the safety standard set by Underwriters Laboratories, which covers electrical safety, fire resistance, and structural integrity. Together, they tell you a panel can take the weather and stay safe doing it.

The Bigger Picture

Everything on the outside of your home already takes a beating from Wisconsin weather. Your roof, your siding, your windows, and the AC unit out back. None of that has stopped anyone from owning a home. You carry insurance for a reason, and when something breaks, you call somebody who knows how to fix it. Solar panels are no different than anything else on your house in that respect.

April has been hard on Wisconsin, no question about it. But the things people depend on after a storm have shown up. Insurance is paying out. Installers are out doing the work. Hail and wind can damage panels. That’s true. What matters is having the right people in your corner and the right coverage in place when it happens. A solid installer and the right insurance policy take care of that.

Earlier this week, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) approved Akron Solar! This 200 Megawatt (MW) solar project will be located in Adams and Wood Counties and is planned for completion in the latter half of 2029. Projects like this have a wide range of local and statewide benefits. Thanks to everyone who helped make this project happen, especially those who submitted comments to the PSC and told them why Wisconsin needs more solar power!

Even though we’re only three months into 2026, we are excited about the amount of progress we have already made. That said, there’s plenty more for us to accomplish this year. We hope you’re just as excited as we are to keep the momentum up and help us create a future where everyone benefits from the renewable energy revolution!

Akron Solar’s benefits extend well beyond the clean energy it will produce. If you’re not familiar with the project, below are some additional reasons why we support this project:

• Economic Growth: According to a report by Strategic Economic Research, Akron Solar will create more than 450 jobs during construction, as well as more than 14 good-paying, long-term positions in Adams and Wood Counties.
• Community Benefits: Once in service, Akron Solar will contribute more than $1,000,000 in utility-aid payments each year. Over $566,000 of this will go to the counties, while the remaining $433,33 will go to the towns of Rome and Saratoga. During its 25-year life, the project will contribute a total of at least $25million in utility-aid payments.
• Emissions Reductions: Akron Solar will reduce energy production emissions by 650 million pounds of CO2 in the first year of operations. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, this is the equivalent of taking more than 64,000 vehicles off the road for a full year. These emissions reductions will result in health, economic, and environmental benefits. Wisconsin can expect more than $1.4 million in economic benefits associated with public health improvements in Akron Solar’s first year of operations alone.

Public comments are open now through March 9 for Fox Solar, a 100 Megawatt (MW) solar project paired with a 50 MW battery energy storage system. If approved, the solar project will be located in Oconto County and is planned for completion in 2028. Projects like this have a wide range of local and statewide benefits. Show your support for this project and tell the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) why you support the approval of a vital solar project in Wisconsin!

You can use some of the listed benefits below to help you craft your message.

Fox Solar isn’t just about the clean energy it will produce. The 100 MW facility in Oconto County has many benefits:

Economic Growth: According to witness testimony provided by David Loomis of Strategic Economic Research, Fox Solar will create 300 temporary jobs during construction, as well as more than 20 good-paying, long-term jobs across Wisconsin due to economic stimulus related to the project.

Community Benefits: Once in service, Fox Solar will contribute more than $500,000 in utility-aid payments each year. $283,333 of this will go to Oconto County, while the remaining $216,667 will go to the Town of Morgan. During its 25-year life, the project will contribute more than $12 million in utility-aid payments.

Emissions Reductions: Fox Solar will reduce energy production emissions by 304 million pounds of CO2 in the first year of operations. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, this is the equivalent of taking more than 29,993 vehicles off the road for a full year. Additionally, non-GHG emissions reductions will result in health, economic, and environmental benefits. Wisconsin can expect more than $690,000 in economic benefits associated with public health improvements in Fox Solar’s first year of operations alone.

Submit your comments today and tell the PSC you support the approval of Fox Solar. Feel free to use some of the bullet points above to craft your own unique message.

Solar for Good and Solar for Schools are now under one roof at RENEW Wisconsin. The Solar for Good program was created by the Couillard Solar Foundation, and since its inception, we have appreciated Cal and Laurie Couillard’s trust in us to administer the program. This year, things are changing a little bit. As the Couillard Solar Foundation begins to downsize, we are honored that they have decided to further entrust us with Solar for Good as well as the Solar for Schools program.

With these programs now fully housed under RENEW Wisconsin, we intend to merge the two under the Solar for Good name. Though things are shifting behind the scenes, the mission remains the same — making it possible for mission-based nonprofits, schools, and houses of worship to do more good. By making solar power accessible for these vital organizations and institutions, we can reduce energy costs so more dollars can be spent on the missions that serve Wisconsin communities.

Laurie Couillard shared a few words with us on the history of the Couillard Solar Foundation and their decision to downsize.

“The Couillard Solar Foundation began in 2017 with funds from the sale of Componex, Cal’s small manufacturing company in Edgerton. Our family foundation started our mission to reduce the use of fossil fuels by helping nonprofits and schools install solar energy at their facilities across Wisconsin.

Initially, government rebates were unavailable to nonprofits, so our donations made the installations financially within reach. Partnering with RENEW Wisconsin and Midwest Renewable Energy Association, we focused on our programs, Solar for Good and Solar on Schools, and purchased many shipping containers of solar panels for distribution.

Going forward, we hired staff, grew our foundation board, and educated people about the benefits of renewable energy to combat climate change. As a small private foundation, the Couillard Solar Foundation has had limited success in raising additional donations to continue our programs. As the foundation must downsize due to depleted resources, we are delighted that the dedicated staff of our partner, RENEW Wisconsin, is willing to embrace the challenge to continue our effective programs, Solar for Good and Solar on Schools.

Cal and Laurie Couillard will continue to fundraise with RENEW Wisconsin to support these efforts. We are so grateful for the success of these programs and are hopeful that with RENEW Wisconsin at the helm, we’ll continue to add to the three hundred plus completed solar projects throughout nearly every county in Wisconsin.”

As Laurie mentions above, the Solar for Good and Solar for Schools programs have helped to make more than 300 projects possible, through a mix of financial and solar panel grants. RENEW Wisconsin is proud to have been selected by the Couillards to help carry their legacy of generosity and clean energy advocacy forward.

Questions about Solar for Good? Reach out to us at Ben@renewwisconsin.org or info@renewwisconsin.org.

Public comments are open now through February 23 for Muddy Creek Solar, a 322 Megawatt (MW) solar project paired with a 300 MW battery energy storage system. If approved, the solar project will be located in Dunn County and is planned for completion in 2029. Projects like this have a wide range of local and statewide benefits. Show your support for this project and tell the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) why you support the approval of a vital solar project in Wisconsin!

You can use some of the listed benefits below to help you craft your message.

(update: public comments for this project have now closed. We will share an update when the PSC announces their decision)

Muddy Creek Solar isn’t just about the clean energy it will produce. The 322 MW facility in Dunn County has many benefits:

• Economic Growth: According to witness testimony provided by David Loomis of Strategic Economic Research, Muddy Creek Solar will create more than 800 temporary jobs during construction, as well as more than 52 good-paying, long-term jobs across Wisconsin due to economic stimulus related to the project.
• Community Benefits: Once in service, Muddy Creek Solar will contribute more than $1,605,000 in utility-aid payments each year. $909,500 of this will go to Dunn County, while the remaining $695,000 will go to the Town of Spring Brook. During its 25-year life, the project will contribute a total of over $40 million in utility-aid payments.
• Emissions Reductions: Muddy Creek Solar will reduce energy production emissions by 954 million pounds of CO2 in the first year of operations. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, this is the equivalent of taking more than 94,000 vehicles off the road for a full year. Additionally, non-GHG emissions reductions will result in health, economic, and environmental benefits. Wisconsin can expect more than $2 million in economic benefits associated with public health improvements in Muddy Creek Solar’s first year of operations alone.

Submit your comments today and tell the PSC you support the approval of Muddy Creek Solar. Feel free to use some of the bullet points above to craft your own unique message.

Clean Energy Works is RENEW Wisconsin’s initiative to get into the field with our business members and learn directly from those doing the work each day. By shadowing installers, technicians, and staff across the clean energy industry, we gain a deeper understanding of what goes into the work. These experiences directly inform how RENEW supports and advocates for the people and companies driving clean energy forward.

When it comes to clean energy home improvements, the first project is rarely the last. In Westby, Wisconsin, one homeowner’s decision to go solar became the foundation for batteries, a smart panel, a heat pump, and future expansion.

To see what that looks like in practice, I joined Erik Amodt, Project Manager, and Tomas Herrera, Customer Experience Integrator, at a home where solar opened up the door to so much more.

Meet the Crew

Ethos Green Power Cooperative was established in Viroqua in 2013 and has grown into a 24-person electric cooperative serving southwest Wisconsin. Getting their start in solar installations, Ethos has expanded into battery storage, integrated electrical systems, and mini-split heat pumps as customer needs evolved.

Erik’s own path into clean energy started in agriculture. He spent years farming before transitioning into solar, bringing with him a practical mindset shaped by mechanical work and problem-solving.

“I grew up up north in Blair,” Erik said. “I did a lot of mechanical work and electrical work on the farm. I went to engineering school for three years, did a lot of math-type stuff, and then I just learned on the job. It worked out just fine.”

“Farmers are good at figuring it out,” he said. “It’s kind of fun to learn, to understand code better and see how all that stuff works.”

Erik is now a co-owner in the cooperative. He and Tomas work closely with homeowners as projects evolve. They’ve seen how often one installation leads to another.

“Electrification doesn’t happen all at once,” Tomas said. “It’s usually a journey.”

A recent customer, Paul, has a home that reflects that progression.

About the Technology

Paul began with solar and then expanded with a solar canopy. A local contractor built a beautiful timber frame structure, and Ethos installed solar on top. What started as an energy project also became a permanent and aesthetic feature on the property.

He later added a tiltable ground-mounted array to improve solar energy production in the winter and is now considering an additional ground mount behind his second array. Along the way, he added battery storage, a Span smart panel, and most recently, a heat pump.

The system integrates solar production with three batteries totaling 15 kilowatt-hours of storage, which offers him about 15 hours of emergency power. The Span panel provides circuit-level usage monitoring and prioritizes essentials like lights and refrigerators during outages.

Erik walked through the system controller first, explaining how power flows from the meter into the Enphase controller before distributing through the Span panel and three batteries.

“Span really shines when you start to have battery backup,” Erik said. “They can just work so seamlessly together.”

For Paul, storage was not just about cost savings. Living in a rural area, outages are periodic and often unpredictable. They can happen even on days when there is not a cloud in the sky. That uncertainty became a concern in his woodworking shop, where losing power mid-operation can create real physical risk.

“One initial concern of mine also was safety of my woodworking machines,” Paul said. “Not losing power during a critical operation.”

It wasn’t just about protecting equipment. It was about protecting himself as well. An abrupt outage, followed by power returning without warning, could create a dangerous situation while operating machinery.

“So we did switch one circuit on that critical machine over to here, to the Span panel, so that it can continue on if there is an outage,” he said.

With battery backup and the Span smart panel managing loads, the system provides a smooth transition between grid power and stored energy. Storage and backup became a way to protect his home, his physical health, and his workspace from unpredictable interruptions that are commonplace in rural areas.

Even the municipal utility came out to observe the installation, given how new the technology was to the area.

“They were thrilled to be able to come down and see this,” Paul said. “They were snapping pictures.”

Why It Matters

Paul’s home reflects a pattern that is increasingly common across Wisconsin. Solar becomes the entry point. Once installed, homeowners begin to understand their energy usage. From there, many build outward: adding storage, integrating mini-split heat pumps, and planning for electric vehicles.

This progression differs from how the industry often frames electrification. The common advice is to optimize the building envelope and electrify everything first, then add solar. In practice, many homeowners start with solar and expand over time.

Repeat customers are not simply a sales metric. They are a reflection of quality work and long-term trust. When systems perform well and installers remain engaged, homeowners return.

Looking Ahead

Paul is not done. He is increasingly interested in the possibility of using his electric vehicle as a battery for his home. Vehicle-to-home integration is already in use across the country and has been used to power homes during power outages caused by severe weather.

For Ethos Green Power Cooperative, repeat customers will likely become even more important as the market evolves.

“At the end of the day, we’re just trying to build good systems and do right by our customers,” Erik said.

In Westby, what began as a single solar installation has grown into a fully integrated energy system. It also reinforces an important lesson for the industry: build it right the first time, and customers will come back when they are ready for the next step.

If you are part of this work and would be willing to share your story, I would love to join you for a day. Feel free to reach out to me at ben@renewwisconsin.org.

On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) approved the Emerald Bluffs Solar Project, a 225 Megawatt (MW) solar project in Juneau County. This project is planned for completion in the latter half of 2027. Projects like this have a wide range of local and statewide benefits. Thanks to the support from the public, we were able to get this project across the finish line!

Emerald Bluffs is another exciting step in the right direction as we work to expand renewable energy across the state. Wisconsin has now reached a point where we have 2089 MW of solar in operation, nearly 4,000 MW approved and in the development phase, and more than 1,000 MW of solar seeking approval from the PSC. Altogether, we’re hopeful that we’ll have nearly 7,500 MW of solar online across Wisconsin in the near future. Together, we can keep this momentum going.

Emerald Bluffs Solar Project’s Benefits Go Beyond Renewable Energy:

Economic Growth: Emerald Bluffs will create nearly 1,000 jobs during construction, as well as more than 20 good-paying, long-term operations and maintenance positions.

Community Benefits: Once in service, Emerald Bluffs will contribute more than $1,125,000 in utility-aid payments each year. Over $637,000 of this will go to Juneau County, while the remaining $487,500 will go to the towns of Lemonweir and Seven Mile Creek. During its 35-year life, the project will contribute a total of $39.375 million in utility-aid payments.

Emissions Reductions: Emerald Bluffs will reduce energy production emissions by 746 million pounds of CO2 in the first year of operations. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, this is the equivalent of taking more than 73,500 vehicles off the road for a full year. These emissions reductions will result in health, economic, and environmental benefits.

Over the past year, RENEW has expanded its capacity to identify and respond to local barriers to distributed renewable energy (rooftop solar as an example), with a particular focus on identifying and addressing county and town drafting of restrictive local ordinances. RENEW has developed a framework for tracking county and town activity and coordinating with installers and developers on submitting comments to local board meetings. RENEW continues to communicate with county and town boards, when necessary, to advise on policy and legal implications of overly restrictive local regulations on distributed energy resources.

As part of implementing this strategy, RENEW communicated directly with Jefferson County regarding their 2025 Solar Energy Systems Ordinance Draft, providing a detailed legal analysis of how key provisions conflicted with state law and Court of Appeals precedent. RENEW’s analysis resulted in the redrafting of the proposed ordinance. When the ordinance was presented to the County Board of Supervisors, RENEW called for comments from RENEW members and impacted installers and developers. The strategy resulted in the Jefferson County Board returning the proposed ordinance to the zoning committee for further review, to reduce restrictions on solar energy systems.

The experience has helped RENEW identify potential litigation and policy strategies to empower our advocacy for balanced local rules that do not unduly restrict renewable energy production. RENEW is communicating and coordinating with other stakeholders to lay the groundwork for future model ordinance work and to support potential litigation that can clarify local authority on regulating renewable energy siting and production.

In parallel, RENEW has supported homeowners facing Home Owner Association (HOA) barriers to rooftop solar. RENEW worked with two homeowners and prepared a legal advisory letter to the Theofila Estates HOA explaining the limited authority of HOAs under state law, demonstrating how the HOA’s rejection of south-facing solar installations based on aesthetic rules would significantly increase costs, reduce system efficiency, and disqualify projects from Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy rebate, and therefore constitute an unlawful restriction on solar.

Together, this local and HOA focused work is helping RENEW build a practical toolkit that RENEW can deploy statewide to defend solar rights and promote uniform, lawful treatment of distributed renewable energy.

Public comments are open now through December 12 for Akron Solar, a 200 Megawatt (MW) solar project. If approved, the solar project will be located in Adams and Wood Counties and is planned for completion in the latter half of 2029. Projects like this have a wide range of local and statewide benefits. Show your support for this project and tell the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) why you support the approval of a vital solar project in Wisconsin!

You can use some of the listed benefits below to help you craft your message.

Akron Solar isn’t just about the clean energy it will produce. The 200 MW facility in Adams and Wood Counties has many benefits:

• Economic Growth: According to a report by Strategic Economic Research, Akron Solar will create more than 450 jobs during construction, as well as more than 14 good-paying, long-term positions in Adams and Wood Counties. 
• Community Benefits: Once in service, Akron Solar will contribute more than $1,000,000 in utility-aid payments each year. Over $566,000 of this will go to the counties, while the remaining $433,33 will go to the towns of Rome and Saratoga. During its 25-year life, the project will contribute a total of at least $25million in utility-aid payments. 
• Emissions Reductions: Akron Solar will reduce energy production emissions by 650 million pounds of CO2 in the first year of operations. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, this is the equivalent of taking more than 64,000 vehicles off the road for a full year. These emissions reductions will result in health, economic, and environmental benefits. Wisconsin can expect more than $1.4 million in economic benefits associated with public health improvements in Akron Solar’s first year of operations alone.

Submit your comments today and tell the PSC you support the approval of Akron Solar. Feel free to use some of the bullet points above to craft your own unique message.

On Thursday, December 4, 2025, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) approved Porchlight Solar, a 163.8 Megawatt (MW) solar project paired with a 50 MW battery in Portage County. In their verbal decision, PSC commissioners noted that the team behind the project made a good effort to work with community members on this project. The commission also noted the many positive comments that came through in support of this project, including RENEW’s. If you submitted a comment in support of this project, thank you for helping us get this project across the finish line!

Porchlight Solar is another exciting step forward as we work to meet our clean energy goals. Wisconsin has now reached a point where we have 2089 MW of solar in operation, 3738 MW approved and in the development phase, and more than 1,600 MW of solar seeking approval from the PSC. Altogether, we’re hopeful that we’ll have nearly 7,500 MW of solar online across Wisconsin in the near future. Together, we can keep this momentum going.

Porchlight Solar’s Benefits Go Beyond Clean Energy:

Economic Growth: Porchlight Solar will create between 200 to 300 jobs during construction, as well as good-paying, long-term operations and maintenance positions.

Community Benefits: Once in service, Porchlight Solar will contribute more than $800,000 in utility-aid payments each year. Over $460,000 of this will go to Portage County, $273,000 will go to the town of Buena Vista, and just over $80,000 will go to the town of Pine Grove. During its 30-year life, the project will contribute a total of $24.4 million in utility-aid payments. In other municipalities, funds like these have gone toward roads, municipal buildings, and first responder resources.

Landowner Engagement: Porchlight Solar has signed land leases with farmers who produce potatoes, corn, and soybeans, according to the application from the developer. When farmers and landowners sign 25-plus-year leases to host solar projects like Porchlight, they are able to rely on long-term, stable revenue.

Emissions Reductions: Porchlight Solar will reduce energy production emissions by 530 million pounds of CO2 in the first year of operations. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, this is the equivalent of taking more than 53,000 vehicles off the road for a full year. These emissions reductions will result in health, economic, and environmental benefits.