PSC Approves $7.7 Million in Renewable Energy Rebates and $10-$20 million in Biogas Spanning 2017 & 2018!

Today, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin authorized approximately $7.7 million in rebates spanning 2017 and 2018 to spur small, customer-based renewable energy projects throughout Wisconsin.

The rebates go to residential, business, and non-profit customers of eligible Wisconsin utilities, and enable the customers to install renewable energy technologies including solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass and small wind systems.
   
Tyler Huebner, Executive Director of RENEW Wisconsin, said, “From our renewable energy perspective, Chairperson Ellen Nowak may have said it best in her concluding remarks, stating, ‘This is a great win for Wisconsin.’ Indeed, continuing the highly successful renewable energy rebates for 2017 and 2018 is a great win.  This level of renewable energy rebate funding should support upwards of 500 solar electric home installations, 70 or more home geothermal installations, and dozens of larger business renewable energy projects for each of the next two years. The program will help our residents save money and our companies stay cost-competitive.”

The Commission asked Staff to recommend how the renewables funding should be split between residential and business projects, as well as a review of the incentive levels in light of the fact that technology prices for renewable energy systems, specifically solar electric systems, have been dropping very quickly in recent years. RENEW Wisconsin will provide our recommendations, and those of the renewable energy industry, to Commission Staff in the coming days.

In addition, the Commission will evaluate spending $10-$20 million to expand biogas production from anaerobic digesters on dairy farms.  Staff and program administrators will be developing biogas program options for the Commission to investigate within 30 days, along with program options for increasing Focus on Energy’s energy efficiency and renewable energy impacts in rural Wisconsin.


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