Wisconsin scores $62.4 million federal grant for residential solar

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Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday announced a $62.4 million federal grant to boost solar energy systems for low- and medium-income homes in Wisconsin. The grant is part of the Biden administration’s “Solar for All” program, which disbursed $7 billion to 60 applicants across the country. The funding announcement also coincides with Earth Day and Earth Week.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency initiative aims to deliver residential solar projects to more than 900,000 households nationwide, governor’s officials said. The initiative is fueled by the Inflation Reduction Act, which created the EPA’s $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, officials added.

“What better way to celebrate Earth Day and Earth Week, especially here in Wisconsin, where Earth Day began with an idea Gaylord Nelson, our former governor and U.S. senator, had some fifty years ago,” Evers said in a statement.

“I’m excited Wisconsin was selected for the EPA’s Solar for All program. This will help support the important benefits of renewable solar energy for low- and moderate-income households across our state through rooftop residential, multifamily, and community solar projects. These investments will help Wisconsin build upon our work toward achieving 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2050 while creating good-paying jobs, reducing reliance on out-of-state energy sources, and lowering energy costs for Wisconsin homeowners and renters,” he added.

Wisconsin has more than 1,251 megawatts of installed solar statewide and hopped up the rankings from 31 to 21 out of 50 states with highest use of solar power, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. applied for the competitive grant to install solar on single family and multifamily residential buildings, according to federal officials. The overarching goal is to lower energy bills for customers with little or no cost up front, officials added.

The program will also use workforce partners, including the Wisconsin Technical College System, as it trains recruits in solar installation careers, EPA officials noted. The governor’s office also said the solar program will cut almost two million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

“Gov. Evers and all of us in his administration are working to build an economy for all,” said Missy Hughes. WEDC CEO and secretary. “Likewise, we seek to create an energy system that is renewable and works for all. The grant represents a huge step forward in that effort,” she added.

According to the governor’s office, low-income households make up around 29% of state households. Solar power access can reduce energy costs for residents, but the cost of installation is the highest barrier they can face. In Wisconsin, the average cost for a 5-kilowatt rooftop system is $14,000 to $19,000 before federal tax credits and local incentives, officials added.

The Wisconsin Solar for All initiative will leverage private capital to maximize federal Solar for All funding and build a sustainable financial assistance program beyond the initial five-year program timeline, officials added.

The EPA expects awards to selected applicants to be finalized in the summer of 2024, officials said. The WEDC expects funding will go to projects in late 2024 or early 2025, officials added.

Solar advocates applauded the announcement and renewable energy advancement in the state.

“The Solar for All program is a down payment on Wisconsin’s clean economy future, where every community can participate and benefit,” representatives of Clean Economy Coalition of Wisconsin said in a statement. “We applaud this critical step toward increased solar access, reduced reliance on fossil fuels, and expanded clean energy job creation around the state as we build a healthier, more equitable clean energy future,” they added.