The clean energy landscape in the United States changes frequently, and Advanced Energy United is always evaluating opportunities for new projects that will benefit consumers financially, help businesses succeed, and give states tools to bolster their electricity grids and meet rising demand. After evaluating the potential for advanced energy projects and working with our members, United recently expanded our presence in Wisconsin. The Badger State finds itself at an inflection point, and policymakers must choose how they want to harness the economic promise of the clean energy transition.
Wisconsin has shown leadership on advanced energy issues in the past, and there is no reason it cannot meet the current moment. In just the last year, Wisconsin revised an outdated law to enable more electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and take advantage of $76 million allocated for the state to create a reliable, fast charging network. In October, Wisconsin became the first state in the U.S. to launch the Home Efficiency Rebate program, established in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), making energy efficient heating and cooling upgrades more affordable. This leadership is not limited to the 21st century; in 1907, Wisconsin became the first state to create a Public Service Commission, creating important structures to regulate utilities and protect customers.
Currently, Wisconsin sits in the middle of the pack in a myriad of clean energy transition metrics. Like many states, Wisconsin has seen solar installations take off in the last five years, with more than 2600MW of solar installed. This positions America’s Dairyland at 19th in the country for installed capacity. The Solar Energy Industry Association projects that in just five years, Wisconsin will have reached 4500MW, almost doubling current levels. But with wind power, Wisconsin lags significantly behind the rest of the Midwest. The state has just 829MW of wind power, while other states in the region have anywhere from 4 to 12 times as much wind power installed. Despite the challenges, Wisconsin remains an attractive state to build large scale renewable projects and is ripe with opportunities for advanced energy. The state offers a straightforward permitting process and clear timelines, advantages for companies developing projects and scoping out sites.
Wisconsin stands to benefit from greater investment in advanced energy resources as the state has the highest electricity rates in the Midwest for both residential and commercial customers, according to the Public Service Commission’s most recent Strategic Energy Assessment (“SEA”). This hurts residents across the state and disincentivizes businesses from opening in Wisconsin. The opportunity cost of reliance on fossil fuels and lower adoption of innovative, clean technologies goes beyond just carbon emissions, it hurts local economies that need more stable, family-sustaining jobs.
Wisconsin holds huge potential in accelerating deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs) that can be installed at a customer’s home or business, thanks to the recent overturning of a Public Service Commission rule that banned certain DER providers and aggregators has opened the market for new businesses to provide their services. These resources include rooftop solar, battery storage, community solar, microgrids, and backup power systems. They can provide individual customers with cost savings and extra security during the hottest summer days and coldest winter nights. They also can bring down costs for all consumers and modernize the grid.
United hosted its first lobby day on March 6 so that our member companies could meet with legislators and the governor’s staff to discuss Wisconsin’s untapped potential for these advanced energy resources. Legislators acknowledged electricity demand will continue to grow, and they expressed eagerness to find solutions to ensure our grid remains reliable and affordable. The pace of innovation in this advanced energy space is impressive and is dramatically outpacing the slow bureaucratic and regulatory processes that govern utilities. Wisconsin should use all the tools available to meet its energy demand and modernize existing systems, rather than leaving money on the table and energy untapped.
Now, Wisconsin needs intentional leadership to tap into all the benefits of advanced energy technologies. After decades of minimal growth in the demand for electricity and stagnant investment in the grid, meeting growing demand and modernizing the grid will be expensive, so Wisconsin needs to buttress its utility planning process to ensure utilities are making investments that are cost-effective, energy efficient, and do not risk stranding assets.
Maximizing the benefits of advanced energy technologies will help Wisconsin bolster its electrical grid and keep costs down for consumers. Advanced Energy United is excited to help the state build these proven, effective tools and to help our member companies create the power Wisconsin needs to thrive in the future.
