Green Power Purchasing
This is not a rebate or incentive for households; it is a goal for certain Wisconsin state agencies to buy or generate renewable power. There is nothing for homeowners to apply for, though it supports demand for renewable energy in the state. For questions about other residential renewable energy options, contact the Wisconsin Public Service Commission.
This policy applies only to state government buyers, not private customers, so it offers no direct incentive for residential or commercial installations. Covered agencies aim to meet the goals with eligible resources such as solar PV, wind, geothermal, biomass, small hydropower (under 60 MW), solar thermal-electric, tidal, wave, and fuel cells using renewable fuels. Agencies are excused from buying or generating renewable energy when it is not technically feasible or cost-effective, so any opportunities depend on agency decisions.
Under S.B. 459 (March 2006), the Departments of Administration, Corrections, Health and Family Services, Public Instruction, and Veterans Affairs, plus the UW System Board of Regents, set goals of 10% renewable power by the end of 2007 and 20% by the end of 2011. In July 2008 the Governor announced a 92,400 MWh green electricity purchase, roughly 10% of covered agencies' annual consumption, and no new targets have been set since the 2011 goal date. Agencies may skip purchases or generation that are not technically feasible or cost-effective, and the Public Service Commission can deem other non-conventional resources eligible.
Program details
- Program ID
- 1308
- Last updated
- 12/9/2024
Eligibility
- Sectors
- state government
- Technologies
- geothermal electric solar thermal electric solar photovoltaics wind (all) biomass hydroelectric tidal wave wind (small) fuel cells using renewable fuels
Program summary
Note: The green power purchasing goal has a target date of 2011. As of August 2021, the state has not created new green power purchasing targets.
Pursuant to S.B. 459 enacted in March 2006, Wisconsin's Departments of Administration, Corrections, Health and Family Services, Public Instruction, Veterans Affairs, and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System have a goal of purchasing or generating 10% of their power from renewable energy by December 31, 2007, and 20% by December 31, 2011. In July 2008 the Governor announced that the state had completed a green electricity purchase of 92,400 megawatt-hours (MWh), equivalent to roughly 10% of the annual electricity consumption of the agencies covered by the mandate.
According to the statute, agencies are not required to generate or purchase electricity derived from renewable energy sources if the generation or purchase of renewable energy is not technically feasible or cost-effective.
Eligible resources include tidal and wave power, fuel cells using renewable fuels, hydropower facilities less than 60 megawatts (MW), solar thermal-electric systems, photovoltaics (PV), wind, geothermal, biomass, and any other non-conventional energy resources deemed eligible by the state Public Service Commission.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- govinfo@wisconsin.gov
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
