WE SUPPORT ENERGY FREEDOm.
The two largest barriers to onsite solar installations are financing and the suitability of the host site. Wisconsin has the potential to dramatically scale up customer-friendly solar solutions with legislation on community solar and a PSC ruling on two third-party financing dockets.
COMMUNITY SOLAR
Community solar refers to a small solar array located within a community where multiple customers like households, small businesses, churches, schools, and local governments can subscribe to a portion of the solar array and receive a credit on their utility bill for their share of the power the solar panels produce. Community solar expands access to solar energy, avoids the large upfront costs of a traditional system, and provides an alternative to the traditional process of individuals and businesses placing solar systems on their property. Twenty-one other states have community solar legislation that allows for greater participation.
THIRD-PARTY financing
Third-party financing eliminates the relatively high upfront costs associated with customer-sited renewable energy projects. Through leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs), third-party financing makes ‘going solar’ an affordable option for low- to middle-income homeowners, houses of worship, government agencies, and nonprofits. On May 26, 2022, two petitions were filed at the Public Service Commission (PSC) seeking rulings to clarify the issue of third party-financed renewable energy generation serving individual customers behind their meters. Favorable rulings on these petitions will ensure that Wisconsin residents and businesses have access to the same financing tools as those in twenty-eight other states with clear third-party financing policies.
WISCONSIN SOLAR COALITION MEMBERS
We are a group of Wisconsin organizations from across the state and all walks of life committed to pushing for expanding access to renewable energy through community solar and third-party financing.
