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Wisconsin

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State Planning and Incentive Structures | Energy Efficiency Actions | Energy Supply Actions

State Planning and Incentive Structures

Lead By Example—Energy Efficiency in Public Facilities

Status: Completed

Details: On April 12, 2006, the governor signed Executive Order 145 which calls for the Public Utilities Commission to set energy efficiency goals for state facilities, office buildings, and campuses for 2007 to 2009. The goals should reduce actual energy usage per square foot by at least 10% by 2008 from the 2005 state energy report baseline adjusted for weather and 20% by 2010. The order also called for the Department of Administration to work with the Building Commission and the Energy Center of Wisconsin to ensure that new state facilities are constructed to be 30% more energy efficient than commercial code. Wisconsin Act 141 (2005) directs the facilities of the six state agencies that use the largest amounts of electricity to develop energy cost reduction plans that identify opportunities to increase the energy efficiency in their facilities. The Act also directs the Department of Administration to create special energy standards for state building projects and requires the Department of Commerce to review its energy efficiency code every 3 years (rather than every five years as under a previous law).

Lead By Example—Energy Efficient Appliance and Equipment Purchase Requirements for Public Facilities

Status: No Activity Identified

Lead By Example—Clean Energy Goals for Public Facilities

Status: Completed

Details: 2005 WI Act 141 (SB 459, signed March 20, 2006) set goals of 10% renewable energy for state government by 2008 and 20% by 2012. Annual updates are due to the governor each March. Agencies are exempted if a purchase of renewable resources is not technically feasible. Eligible resources include tidal and wave power, fuel cells, hydropower facilities less than 60 MW, solar thermal-electric systems, photovoltaics, wind, geothermal, biomass, and any other non-conventional energy resources deemed eligible by the Public Service Commission.

Lead By Example—Energy Efficiency and Alternative Fuel Goals for Public Fleets

Status: Completed

Details: Executive Order 141 (March 2006) calls for the reduction of petroleum-based gasoline in state-owned vehicles by 20% by 2010 and by 50% by 2015, and the reduction of petroleum-based diesel fuel by those vehicles 10% by 2010 and 25% by 2015. It also calls for the increased use of renewable fuels in state fleets.

State and Regional Energy Planning

Status: Completed

Details: In October 2004, the Governor's Task Force on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy submitted a report to the Governor. Its recommendations include establishing a statewide renewable standard averaging 10% by 2015, exempting customer purchases of renewable energy systems from state taxes, increasing energy efficiency in state buildings, and updating the state's commercial energy codes. Wisconsin is a member of Powering the Plains (PTP), which aims to create an integrated energy strategy that builds on the region's comparative advantages. PTP focuses on (1) renewable energy development; (2) hydrogen production from renewable and carbon-neutral sources; (3) environmental credit trading; (4) carbon sequestration; and (5) coal gasification with carbon capture and geologic sequestration. The states have resolved to create scenarios for reducing GHG emissions 80% by 2050, but have set no specific energy goals yet.

Determining the Air Quality Benefits of Clean Energy—Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy Set Asides (NOX Budget Trading Program)

Status: No Activity Identified

Determining the Air Quality Benefits of Clean Energy—Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy Set Asides (CAIR Budget Trading Program)

Status: Completed

Details: Wisconsin's rule allocates allowances to renewable energy sources, which the FIP does not do. It also allocates allowances to emitting sources based on energy output rather than heat input. Wisconsin's rule utilizes a different approach, which allocates allowances to renewable energy units, as well as NOx emitting sources, and does not issue allowances on a fuel-weighted basis.

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Energy Efficiency Actions

Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards

Status: Proposed

Details: On November 15, 2007, Wisconsin signed the Energy Security and Climate Stewardship Platform for the Midwest, committing to an overall 2% reduction in energy use by 2015.

Public Benefit Funds for Energy Efficiency

Status: Completed

Details: Wisconsin updated its PBF legislation in March 2006 (SB 459), and changed the collector of the PBF to the Public Service Commission. The PBF funds Wisconsin Focus on Energy, which funds energy efficiency, low income programs and renewable energy. SB 459 requires each utility to spend 1.2% of its annual operating revenue on efficiency and renewables.

Building Codes for Energy Efficiency—Commercial Programs

Status: Goes Beyond ECPA

Details: 2006 IECC mandatory statewide; can use COMcheck to show compliance.

Building Codes for Energy Efficiency—Residential Programs

Status: Does Not Meet ECPA

Details: State-developed code (COMM 22), which meets or exceeds 1995 MEC for 1-2 family dwelling. Multi-family dwellings must meet compliance with 2006 IECC. Can use REScheck to show compliance. Labeled as Does Not Meet ECPA because 2006 IECC is not required for all buildings.

State Appliance Efficiency Standards

Status: No Activity Identified

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Energy Supply Actions

Renewable Portfolio Standards

Status: Completed

Details: On November 15, 2007, Wisconsin signed the Midwestern Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord, committing to a region-wide 10% renewable energy standard by 2015.
In March 2006, Governor Doyle signed (SB459) the Energy Efficiency and Renewables Act which requires, among other things, an increase of utilities' generation of renewable power to 10% by 2015 and increases the state government's own purchase of renewable electricity to 20% by 2011. The act calls for a statewide renewable energy goal of 25% by 2025.

Public Benefit Funds for Clean Energy Supply

Status: Completed

Details: Wisconsin updated its PBF legislation in March 2006 (SB 459), and changed the collector of the fund to the Public Service Commission (PSC). The PBF funds Wisconsin Focus on Energy, which funds energy efficiency, low income programs and renewable energy. Under SB 459, each utility is required to spend 1.2% of its annual operating revenue on efficiency and renewables. The PSC will now determine which programs (Clean Energy or Energy Efficiency) will receive funds, and how much.

Output-Based Environmental Regulations

Status: Completed

Details: Wisconsin has output-based regulations for new and existing units as well as their energy efficiency/renewable energy set-asides as a part of CAIR.

Interconnection Standards—Clean Distributed Generation

Status: Completed

Details: Wisconsin's interconnection standards, PSC 119 Rules for Interconnecting Distributed Generation Facilities (PDF 46 KB), became effective February 1, 2004. The rules apply to all distributed generation up to 15MW, with simplified rules for systems under 20kW.

Interconnection Standards—Net Metering

Status: Completed

Details: Statewide net metering for certain utility types. In January 2006, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) approved We Energies' (an investor-owned utility) proposal to offer customers with wind turbines >20 kW but <100 kW net metering. The offer is only available to the first 25 applicants, and lasts for a term of 10 years. December 29, 1992, the PSC authorized net metering for customer-owned systems (up to 20 kW) by Order 6690-UR-107, effective January 1, 1993.

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