Wisconsin
Incentives/Policies for Renewables & Efficiency
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Last DSIRE Review: 07/14/2009
| Incentive Type: |
Renewables Portfolio Standard |
| State: |
Wisconsin |
| Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: |
Solar Thermal Electric,
Photovoltaics,
Landfill Gas,
Wind,
Biomass,
Hydroelectric,
Geothermal Electric,
Tidal Energy,
Wave Energy,
Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels
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| Applicable Sectors: |
Municipal Utility,
Investor-Owned Utility,
Rural Electric Cooperative
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| Standard: | Statewide target of 10% by 2015; requirement varies by utility |
| Technology Minimum: | No |
| Credit Trading: | Yes (limitations apply) |
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Web Site: |
http://psc.wi.gov/
utilityinfo/electric/newsInfo/renewableResource.htm
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Authority 1:
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Wis. Stat. § 196.378
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| Date Enacted: | 10/27/1999 (subsequently amended) |
| Date Effective: | 12/31/2001 |
| Expiration Date: | None |
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Authority 2:
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Chapter PSC 118
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Summary:
In 1998 Wisconsin enacted Act 204, requiring regulated utilities in eastern Wisconsin to install to an aggregate total of 50 MW of new renewable-based electric capacity by December 31, 2000. In October 1999 Wisconsin enacted Act 9, becoming the first state to enact a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) without having restructured its electric-utility industry. Wisconsin's RPS originally required investor-owned utilities and electric cooperatives to obtain at least 2.2% of the electricity sold to customers from renewable-energy resources by 2012. Legislation (SB 459) enacted in March 2006 increased renewable-energy requirements and established an overall statewide renewable-energy goal of 10% by December 31, 2015. The requirements are as follows:- For the years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, each utility -- including municipal utilities -- may not decrease its renewable-energy percentage below the utility's average renewable-energy percentage for 2001, 2002 and 2003.
- For the year 2010, each utility must increase its renewable-energy percentage by at least two points above the utility's average renewable-energy percentage for 2001, 2002 and 2003.
- For the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, each utility may not decrease its renewable-energy percentage below the utility's renewable-energy percentage for 2010.
- For the year 2015, each utility must increase its renewable-energy percentage by at least six points above the utility's average renewable-energy percentage for 2001, 2002 and 2003.
- For each year after 2015, each utility may not decrease its renewable-energy percentage below the utility's renewable-energy percentage for 2015.
Electric providers, wholesale suppliers and customers of electric providers may petition the PSC for a one-year extension of a compliance deadline. By June 1, 2016, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) must determine if the state has met a renewable-energy goal of 10% by December 31, 2015. If the goal has not been achieved, the PSC must indicate why the goal was not achieved and must determine how it may be achieved.
Qualifying renewables include tidal and wave action, fuel cells using renewable fuels, solar thermal electric and photovoltaics (PV), wind power, geothermal, hydropower less than 60 megawatts, and biomass (including landfill gas). Renewable energy generated outside of Wisconsin is eligible. Electricity generated by hydropower receives special treatment. Utilities receive credit for the sum of (1) all hydropower purchased in a reporting year, (2) the average of the amounts of hydropower generated by facilities owned or operated by the utility for 2001, 2002 and 2003, adjusted to reflect the permanent removal from service of any of those facilities and adjusted to reflect any capacity increases from improvements made after January 1, 2004; and (3) the amount of hydropower generated in the reporting year by facilities owned or operated by the electric provider that are initially placed in service on or after January 1, 2004.
A Renewable Resource Credit Program has been established, enabling utilities to buy and sell "renewable resource credits" (RRCs)* from one another for any electricity generated in excess of the percentage specified for a given year. Credits also may be used in subsequent years. Existing installations that qualify as renewable energy resources are eligible to be counted towards a utility's compliance, however, only generation capacity (including incremental additions at existing installations) added after January 1, 2004 is eligible to generate tradable RRCs. An RRC created before January 1, 2004 may be used for compliance until December 31, 2011, after which it will expire. An RRC generated after January 1, 2004 may be used for compliance up to 4 years after the year in which it was created.
The Wisconsin PSC was one of principal developers of the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (M-RETS) to be used for this purpose. Public reports detailing utility progress under the RRC program are available here on the M-RETs website.
* These credits are known as "renewable energy credits" (RECs) in most other states.
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Contact:
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Public Information - PSC
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
610 North Whitney Way
P.O. Box 7854
Madison, WI 53707-7854
Phone: (608) 266-5481
Phone 2: (888) 816-3831
Fax: (608) 266-3957
Web Site: http://psc.wi.gov/
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Please note: The information on the DSIRE web site provides an overview of incentives and other policies, but it should not be used as the only source of information when making purchasing decisions, investment decisions, tax decisions or other binding agreements. Please refer to the individual contact provided in each record to verify that a specific incentive or other policy is applicable to your specific project.
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