Contact: Matthew Pagel, (608) 266-9600
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) today announced that all 118 Wisconsin electric providers have met their renewable portfolio standards (RPS) for 2010. Wisconsin utilities are well on their way to meeting the increase in renewable energy that will be required by 2015, and five electric providers achieved their 2015 renewable energy percentage in 2010.
Our current RPS law requires Wisconsin retail electric providers to produce 10 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable resources by the year 2015. For the years leading to 2015, Wisconsin utilities are required to report their progress in meeting the renewable milestones to the PSC. Wisconsin electric providers continue to take steps towards achieving their renewable energy goals.
Renewable sales have increased 92.5% from 2006- 2010. In 2010, 7.37 percent of electricity sold by the state’s utilities and cooperatives was generated from renewable resources eligible for the RPS, up from 6.29 percent in 2009.
“Wisconsin electric providers have done a great job adding renewable resources to their generation fleet,” said Chairperson Montgomery. “Diversifying our energy portfolio has reaped benefit for both the state’s economy and its environment.”
An additional 0.55% of the electricity sold at retail in Wisconsin in 2010 came from renewable resources pursuant to voluntary green pricing programs. Together, these voluntary programs and the renewable energy eligible for RPS compliance provided a total of 7.92 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable resources in 2010.
“Balancing out our energy generation mix makes sound economic and environmental sense,” said Commissioner Eric Callisto. “We’ve nearly doubled our renewable energy assets in the last five years, and I urge that we continue on a path that supports this valuable resource in the years ahead.”
Specific renewable energy projects that have been approved by the Commission and recently completed or expected to be completed soon include:
* Crane Creek Wind Farm (99 Megawatts) – owned by Wisconsin Public Service (2009)
* Bent Tree Wind Farm (200 Megawatts) – owned by Wisconsin Power and Light (2011)
* Glacier Hills Wind Park (up to 207 Megawatts) – owned by Wisconsin Electric Power Company (under construction, expected 2011)
* Rothschild Cogeneration Facility (50 Megawatts) – owned by Wisconsin Electric Power Company (expected 2013)
