RENEW Wisconsin will continue to advocate for Focus on Energy to spend
the $10 million per year allocated for renewable incentives.
We intend to keep a close watch on how the Focus administrators spend
the money, and we told them so. These funds are being collected from
rate payers this year, so Focus should spend as much of the money this
year as possible. Simple!
RENEW effectively advocated for Focus on Energy (Focus) to reinstate
incentives for distributed renewables since the non-residential
incentives were suspended in July of 2011. RENEW organized members and
other stakeholders to communicate this message to the Public Service
Commission and Focus. RENEW’s advocacy led Focus to roll out the
renewable programs in July.
Additionally RENEW solicited input from the renewable community, met
with the Focus administrators, and provided suggestions in early June on
how the Focus funds should best be used. Focus accepted and
incorporated the majority of these suggestions in the Focus renewable
programs that were launched in early July.
RENEW continues to advocate on behalf of the renewable energy community
with the Focus administrators. We asked Focus to drop the need for
installers to be licensed plumbers and electricians; to reconfigure the
need for a building permit before installation; to clear up whether
solar systems could be ground mounted; and, to reduce the minimum
incentive for solar and wind installations in the Business Program RFP.
Once again, Focus administrators accepted the majority of these
suggestions.
Focus also addressed the questions received from RENEW and others in a
list of frequently asked questions for residential systems at Focus FAQs.
Be aware that Focus has limited funds for residential solar projects.
Focus will provide weekly updates on the level of funds available
through the renewable energy program Web pages at Focus funding updates.
Business renewable projects will be considered for funding after a submission due date of August 29, 2012. FAQs on this RFP were issued on July 23, 2012.
Please continue to provide your comments and suggestions to RENEW and to
Focus on how the renewable program should be managed within the budget
constraints outlined by the PSC.
By working together, we can have the best program possible. Please support RENEW with a membership or donation at Join Today!
Showing posts with label Focus on Energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Focus on Energy. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
RENEW lauds PSC for making decison on renewable energy
Ten-month delay harmed renewable energy businesses
RENEW Wisconsin (RENEW) praised the state’s energy regulators for responding to pleas from renewable businesses and potential customers to make a decision and get people working again.The Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) released an April 26 decision on funding for renewable energy incentives to homeowners and businesses in the next three years.
The PSC decided to allocate $10 million per year in incentives for renewable energy installations in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Beginning in 2013, three-quarters of the funds will be reserved for energy systems using biogas, biomass combustion, and geothermal heat pumps. The remaining 25% will fund incentives for solar and small wind installations.
Ten million dollars per year for renewable energy incentives is a reasonable starting place and is consistent with previous funding for incentives provided by Focus on Energy (Focus), the utility-ratepayer-supported energy efficiency and renewable energy program in Wisconsin, according to Don Wichert, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin, a nonprofit advocacy organization that leads and represents businesses, organizations, and individuals who seek more clean, renewable energy in Wisconsin.
“After nearly 10 months of needless uncertainty and delay, renewable energy activity has now nearly come to a complete halt in Wisconsin,” Wichert said.
“Many Wisconsin renewable energy companies told the PSC that the delay in the decision and lack of transparency have been a nightmare, forcing some renewable installers to lay off workers and move their business activity to other states, especially when the Focus program administrator, Shaw Environmental, ended all incentives for renewable technologies at the beginning of 2012,” Wichert said.
“RENEW hopes that the PSC’s response to renewable energy businesses means that it will resume collaboration between Focus and Wisconsin’s renewable energy community,” he said.
“In a time of decreased resources and increased demand, RENEW believes it is imperative for Focus decision makers to involve people who know the industry best,” said Wichert.
“Without a collaborative process, the industry and customers will always be second guessing the decisions and the assumptions behind them. It doesn’t have to be a one-way, top-down approach. The renewable energy industry is just trying to make a living and should be involved.”
END
RENEW Wisconsin is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that leads and represents businesses, organizations, and individuals who seek more clean renewable energy in Wisconsin. More information on RENEW’s Web site at www.renewwisconsin.org.Monday, April 2, 2012
Frustration Floods PSC over Suspension of Renewable Energy Funds
Immediate release
April 2, 2012
More information
Don Wichert
dwichert@renewwisconsin.org
608.255.4044, ext. 1
Frustration Floods PSC over Suspension of Renewable Energy Funds
More than 200 individuals and businesses submitted comments decrying the long delay in restarting the renewable energy programs of Focus on Energy, a nationally recognized program that reduces the cost of solar, wind, and biomass installations for Wisconsin utility customers.
Focus on Energy suspended its support for customer-sited renewable energy systems for businesses last July, when rising demand for renewables outstripped available funds, according to Shaw Environmental, the program administrator. When it announced the funding suspension last June, Shaw told installers that incentives would resume before the end of 2011. In January 2012, funding for residential renewable energy systems ended.
“It is now the spring of 2012, and neither Shaw nor the Public Service Commission (PSC), which oversees Focus, have said a peep about when they will again offer incentives, as required by law,” said Don Wichert, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin, a nonprofit advocacy organization that represents businesses, organizations, and individuals who want more clean renewable energy produced in Wisconsin.
“The protracted delay in resuming incentives speaks to Shaw’s lack of experience in managing a renewable energy program. While Shaw struggles to ‘learn on the job’, dozens of contractors and small businesses are experiencing financial hardship as installation activity grinds to a halt,” added Michael Vickerman, director of policy and programs for RENEW.
“A separate contractor should administer the renewable energy program. Under the current arrangement, renewables and energy efficiency are lumped together under one administrator and are forced to compete against each other for the same pot of funding,” said Vickerman.
“The number of comments shows the huge amount of frustration over lost business and jobs for installers, as well as citizens who support and want to install renewable energy systems,” Wichert said.
James Kerbel, owner of Photovoltaic Systems LLC in Amherst, wrote: “I have seven employees on layoff and some are still collecting unemployment. I also have 20-plus bids out to customers who want to move ahead with a solar electric system, but will not move until they see the new Focus on Energy incentives.”
“My employees can't wait forever for work,” Kerbel said. “I need an answer very soon or I will lose all these trained employees. They need to work, not have their lives in turmoil like this. I need an answer as soon as possible, please.”
State Senator Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) posted a comment. “To benefit and not damage efforts to grow local jobs and the Wisconsin economy, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin should direct Shaw Environmental, the state-contracted administrator of the Focus on Energy program, to immediately restore a comprehensive and robust incentive program for renewable energy system installations,” Schultz wrote.
“I would very much LIKE to put up a Solar PV system. And will if you can get the FOE incentives program going again!!” commented Martha Christensen of Madison.
All public comments can be accessed by clicking on Documents at http://psc.wi.gov/apps40/dockets/content/detail.aspx?dockt_id=5-GF-191 .
END
RENEW Wisconsin is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that organizes and represents businesses, and individuals who want more clean renewable energy produced in Wisconsin. More information on RENEW’s Web site at www.renewwisconsin.org.
April 2, 2012
More information
Don Wichert
dwichert@renewwisconsin.org
608.255.4044, ext. 1
More than 200 individuals and businesses submitted comments decrying the long delay in restarting the renewable energy programs of Focus on Energy, a nationally recognized program that reduces the cost of solar, wind, and biomass installations for Wisconsin utility customers.
Focus on Energy suspended its support for customer-sited renewable energy systems for businesses last July, when rising demand for renewables outstripped available funds, according to Shaw Environmental, the program administrator. When it announced the funding suspension last June, Shaw told installers that incentives would resume before the end of 2011. In January 2012, funding for residential renewable energy systems ended.
“It is now the spring of 2012, and neither Shaw nor the Public Service Commission (PSC), which oversees Focus, have said a peep about when they will again offer incentives, as required by law,” said Don Wichert, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin, a nonprofit advocacy organization that represents businesses, organizations, and individuals who want more clean renewable energy produced in Wisconsin.
“The protracted delay in resuming incentives speaks to Shaw’s lack of experience in managing a renewable energy program. While Shaw struggles to ‘learn on the job’, dozens of contractors and small businesses are experiencing financial hardship as installation activity grinds to a halt,” added Michael Vickerman, director of policy and programs for RENEW.
“A separate contractor should administer the renewable energy program. Under the current arrangement, renewables and energy efficiency are lumped together under one administrator and are forced to compete against each other for the same pot of funding,” said Vickerman.
“The number of comments shows the huge amount of frustration over lost business and jobs for installers, as well as citizens who support and want to install renewable energy systems,” Wichert said.
James Kerbel, owner of Photovoltaic Systems LLC in Amherst, wrote: “I have seven employees on layoff and some are still collecting unemployment. I also have 20-plus bids out to customers who want to move ahead with a solar electric system, but will not move until they see the new Focus on Energy incentives.”
“My employees can't wait forever for work,” Kerbel said. “I need an answer very soon or I will lose all these trained employees. They need to work, not have their lives in turmoil like this. I need an answer as soon as possible, please.”
State Senator Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) posted a comment. “To benefit and not damage efforts to grow local jobs and the Wisconsin economy, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin should direct Shaw Environmental, the state-contracted administrator of the Focus on Energy program, to immediately restore a comprehensive and robust incentive program for renewable energy system installations,” Schultz wrote.
“I would very much LIKE to put up a Solar PV system. And will if you can get the FOE incentives program going again!!” commented Martha Christensen of Madison.
All public comments can be accessed by clicking on Documents at http://psc.wi.gov/apps40/dockets/content/detail.aspx?dockt_id=5-GF-191 .
RENEW Wisconsin is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that organizes and represents businesses, and individuals who want more clean renewable energy produced in Wisconsin. More information on RENEW’s Web site at www.renewwisconsin.org.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
See who contacted the PSC and add your comment about Focus on Energy!
272 days since Focus on Energy "suspended" the renewable energy business program!
88 days since Focus on Energy "suspended" the renewable energy residential program!
Dozens of people submitted comments asking the PSC to restart Focus on Energy renewable incentive.
Have you?
You’ll be in good company if you comment. Go to this PSC Web page, then click on “Documents” to see who already signed.
You have only until the end of next week, March 30 to tell the Public Service Commission to RESTART the incentives.
Remember when Wisconsin used to give incentives, as directed by state law, to people, organizations, and businesses that installed renewable energy systems – solar, wind, biodigesters, and more – through Focus on Energy, which the Public Service Commission oversees.
Not any more!
Since the first of this year, Focus on Energy stopped giving renewable incentives to homeowners as well!
Incentives would again be offered in the spring, said Shaw Environmental, the state-contracted administrator of Focus. Not!
Put a comment in the PSC's official proceeding (5-GF-191) for Focus on Energy. Click here to get to the comment form.
Here’s a sample message to deliver:
The Focus on Energy program used to have a successful renewable energy incentive program, but now the program has been completely dropped. Homeowners and businesses that want to improve the environment, support local jobs, and promote energy independence need the incentives and services to make installations affordable and easy to implement.
RENEW Wisconsin is an independent, nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization that advocates for businesses, organizations, and individuals who want more clean renewable energy in Wisconsin. More information on RENEW's vision, 2012 action plan, and how to become a member can be found on RENEW's Web site at www.renewwisconsin.com. Join or donate today! Click here.
88 days since Focus on Energy "suspended" the renewable energy residential program!
Dozens of people submitted comments asking the PSC to restart Focus on Energy renewable incentive.
Have you?
You’ll be in good company if you comment. Go to this PSC Web page, then click on “Documents” to see who already signed.
You have only until the end of next week, March 30 to tell the Public Service Commission to RESTART the incentives.
Remember when Wisconsin used to give incentives, as directed by state law, to people, organizations, and businesses that installed renewable energy systems – solar, wind, biodigesters, and more – through Focus on Energy, which the Public Service Commission oversees.
Not any more!
Since the first of this year, Focus on Energy stopped giving renewable incentives to homeowners as well!
Incentives would again be offered in the spring, said Shaw Environmental, the state-contracted administrator of Focus. Not!
Put a comment in the PSC's official proceeding (5-GF-191) for Focus on Energy. Click here to get to the comment form.
Here’s a sample message to deliver:
The Focus on Energy program used to have a successful renewable energy incentive program, but now the program has been completely dropped. Homeowners and businesses that want to improve the environment, support local jobs, and promote energy independence need the incentives and services to make installations affordable and easy to implement.
RENEW Wisconsin is an independent, nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization that advocates for businesses, organizations, and individuals who want more clean renewable energy in Wisconsin. More information on RENEW's vision, 2012 action plan, and how to become a member can be found on RENEW's Web site at www.renewwisconsin.com. Join or donate today! Click here.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Action Alert: Tell the PSC to restart the Focus renewable incentives!
Spring is here, but the Focus on Energy Renewable Energy Incentives are not!
Wisconsin used to give incentives, as directed by state law, to people, organizations, and businesses that installed renewable energy systems – solar, wind, biodigesters, and more – through Focus on Energy, which the Public Service Commission oversees.
Not any more!
Last June 2011, Focus on Energy announced a "limited suspension" of incentive payments to businesses that want to install a renewable system.
Since the first of this year, Focus on Energy stopped giving renewable incentives to homeowners as well!
Incentives would again be offered in the spring, said Shaw Environmental, the state-contracted administrator. Not! Spring begins today, and Focus on Energy still needs to restart the incentives program.
Tell the Public Service Commission to RESTART the incentives:
The Focus on Energy program used to have a successful renewable energy incentive program, but now the program has been completely dropped. Homeowners and businesses that want to improve the environment, support local jobs, and promote energy independence need the incentives and services to make installations affordable and easy to implement.
RENEW Wisconsin is an independent, nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization that advocates for businesses, organizations, and individuals who want more clean renewable energy in Wisconsin. More information on RENEW's vision and 2012 action plan, and ways to become a member can be found on RENEW's Web site at www.renewwisconsin.com. Join or donate today! Click here.
Wisconsin used to give incentives, as directed by state law, to people, organizations, and businesses that installed renewable energy systems – solar, wind, biodigesters, and more – through Focus on Energy, which the Public Service Commission oversees.
Not any more!
Last June 2011, Focus on Energy announced a "limited suspension" of incentive payments to businesses that want to install a renewable system.
Since the first of this year, Focus on Energy stopped giving renewable incentives to homeowners as well!
Incentives would again be offered in the spring, said Shaw Environmental, the state-contracted administrator. Not! Spring begins today, and Focus on Energy still needs to restart the incentives program.
Tell the Public Service Commission to RESTART the incentives:
- Put a comment in the PSC's official proceeding (5-GF-191) for Focus on Energy. Click here to get to the comment form.
- Contact your Wisconsin legislators. Find them here: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx.
The Focus on Energy program used to have a successful renewable energy incentive program, but now the program has been completely dropped. Homeowners and businesses that want to improve the environment, support local jobs, and promote energy independence need the incentives and services to make installations affordable and easy to implement.
RENEW Wisconsin is an independent, nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization that advocates for businesses, organizations, and individuals who want more clean renewable energy in Wisconsin. More information on RENEW's vision and 2012 action plan, and ways to become a member can be found on RENEW's Web site at www.renewwisconsin.com. Join or donate today! Click here.
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