Green Power Purchasing

Note: The green power purchasing goal has a target date of 2011. It has not been increased subsequently.

Pursuant to S.B. 459 enacted in March 2006, Wisconsin's Departments of Administration, Corrections, Health and Family Services, Public Instruction, Veterans Affairs, and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System have a goal of purchasing or generating 10% of their power from renewable energy by December 31, 2007, and 20% by December 31, 2011. In July 2008 the Governor announced that the state had completed a green electricity purchase of 92,400 megawatt-hours (MWh), equivalent to roughly 10% of the annual electricity consumption of the agencies covered by the mandate.

Eligible resources include tidal and wave power, fuel cells using renewable fuels, hydropower facilities less than 60 megawatts (MW), solar thermal-electric systems, photovoltaics (PV), wind, geothermal, biomass, and any other non-conventional energy resources deemed eligible by the state Public Service Commission.

According to the statute, agencies are not required to generate or purchase electricity derived from renewable energy sources if the generation or purchase of renewable energy is not technically feasible or cost-effective.