Our member communities are being recognized for their leadership in the advancement of renewable energy.
The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently named River Falls and Lake Mills, both in Wisconsin, as among the top utilities in the United States for renewable energy program performance. The two communities ranked ninth and tenth, respectively, on NREL's national "Top 10" list for customer participation rates. River Falls also earned the No. 3 spot for green power sales as a percentage of total retail electricity sales.
River Falls and Stoughton are the first communities in Wisconsin and the Midwest to appear on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) national list of Green Power Communities. Green Power Communities are cities, towns and villages in which local government, businesses and residents collectively buy green power in amounts that meet or exceed the EPA's purchase requirements as part of the Green Power Partnership.
To date, leaders in 16 member communities have conducted renewable energy purchase challenges. Mayors and other chief executives have used personal invitations and appeal letters to challenge their local citizens to increase their support for renewable energy by purchasing blocks of green power. These appeals substantially increase residential participation in the Renewable Energy Program offered through WPPI Energy.
Communities that have conducted challenges include:
- Columbus
- Cuba City
- Evansville
- Independence
- Juneau
- Lake Mills
- Lodi
- Muscoda
- Oconomowoc
- Oconto Falls
- Plymouth
- River Falls
- Stoughton
- Sun Prairie
- Waunakee
- Westby
Sixteen WPPI Energy member communities are participating in "Wisconsin's Energy Independent Community Partnership" through the Office of Energy Independence, having resolved to help advance energy independence in the state. Participating communities enter into a voluntary agreement with the Office of Energy Independence to adopt the state's "25 x 25" goal of generating 25 percent of electricity and transportation fuels from renewable resources by the year 2025. The communities gain access to state and federal funding, as well as technical assistance from state and federal agencies for the development of renewable energy. Using this information, they will develop plans to reduce 25% of their municipal energy consumption from fossil fuels by 2025.
Three of these sixteen member communities - Columbus, Evansville and Oconomowoc - were awarded Energy Independent Community Partnership 25x25 Plan grants. These communities will receive funding to aid in the development of 25x25 plans; their pilot efforts are expected to provide leadership for renewable energy efforts across the state. The communities will complete energy audits on their municipal facilities and assess fleet vehicles.
Oconomowoc High School
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In the past 12 months, we have provided more than $344,600 to fund over 88 kilowatts (kW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) demonstration projects in WPPI Energy member communities. An additional three new solar PV projects will soon receive $219,000 in funding, and several projects are under review. These demonstration projects, which help to power municipal buildings, schools and businesses, save money on energy costs while educating the community about the technology's benefits, operation and performance.
PV installations completed this year include:
- 1000 Islands Environmental Center, Kaukauna
- Algoma Utilities office
- Bekkum Memorial Library, Westby
- City of Sturgeon Bay Fire Station
- Dodgeland Schools, Juneau
- Jefferson Area Business Center
- Kaukauna High School
- Kaukauna Utilities
- Negaunee High School
- Oconomowoc High School
- Reedsburg Area High School
- Richland Center City Hall
- Riverdale Elementary & Middle School, Muscoda
- Slinger Wastewater Treatment Facility
Renewable grant funding also supported customer projects, providing $7,500 in funding for the installation of renewable energy technologies at homes and businesses. These projects tend to be highly visible, which encourages other community members to learn about the benefits of environmentally friendly technologies.
