Renewable energy

A smart investment for your home or business

As energy costs rise and environmental concerns grow, more and more Wisconsin residents and businesses are becoming interested in renewable energy. Cleaner energy sources such as biomass, geothermal, sun and wind save energy and money while reducing pollution to help protect the environment.

Before considering a renewable energy system it is important to first maximize the energy efficiency of a home or business. When overall energy use is reduced as a result of energy efficiency improvements, a smaller, less costly renewable energy system can be used to meet remaining energy needs.

Focus on Energy can help to maximize the energy efficiency of a home or business. Visit Focus on Energy’s Residential and Business pages for more information about ways you can save energy and money in your home or business.

Renewable Energy Incentives
On April 27, 2012 the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin issued an order establishing the following requirements for the inclusion of renewable energy technologies in Focus on Energy’s portfolio of programs:

1. An annual budget cap of $10 million for renewable energy incentives.

2. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, 75 percent of renewable incentives are to be used for biogas, biomass and geothermal projects and 25 percent of incentives are to be used for solar thermal, photovoltaic and wind projects.

3. Starting in 2013, the Renewable Energy Program cannot reduce Focus on Energy’s portfolio energy savings by more than 7.5 percent compared to an efficiency-only program.

4. Starting in 2013, Focus on Energy must maintain a benefit to cost ratio of at least 2.3.

• Focus on Energy Information Center  
• Department of Energy information for renewable energy in Wisconsin
• Renewables Global Status Report 2011
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• RENEWisconsin
• Midwest Renewable Energy Association