State Pulls Plug On Solar Energy Incentive Program

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Supporters of renewable energy want the state Public Service Commission (PSC) to keep alive a financial incentive program for solar energy projects.

The state’s ratepayer-funded Focus on Energy program is about to halt incentives that encourage homeowners to install solar electric and solar hot water systems. Several groups that look down on using more energy from fossil fuels say it’s bad to pull the plug. Megan Severson of Wisconsin Environment says solar is on an upswing in the state.

“We’re concerned that the PSC would seek to suspend incentives for solar, while at the same time there is such high demand for it,” says Severson.

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The solar program has been halted once before. Renewable energy advocates say the flickering nature of the program makes it more difficult for property owners to make plans.

Officials at the Focus on Energy program emphasize they are just carrying out orders from the PSC. Operations director Tamara Sondgeroth says those orders mandate that most of the renewable energy funds go to things like biomass or manure digester projects.

“I understand concerns about the starts and stops,” says Sondgeroth. “All I can say is I’m trying to follow the orders from the commission as completely as possible.”

The PSC declined comment while it’s considering whether to re-hear the issue of the solar rebate program. The two Walker appointees on the three-person PSC voted to halt the solar incentives. A Doyle appointee disagreed.