Renewable Energy Champions & Standout Projects Set to Receive Honors at RENEW’s 2018 Summit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 11, 2018

CONTACT:
Tyler Huebner
tyler.huebner@renewwisconsin.org
(608) 255-4044 x1


RENEW’s seventh annual Renewable Energy Summit, set for January 18, 2018, will furnish the occasion for recognizing the leading lights in Wisconsin’s renewable energy industry and spotlighting the developments that made 2017 such a stellar year. Titled “Connecting to a Powerful Future,” RENEW’s Summit will take place at Monona Terrace in Madison; registration starts at 8:00 AM and the program runs from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. The recognition ceremony will begin at 2:00 PM.

Last year saw the first large-scale wind power plant go up in Wisconsin since 2011. Quilt Block, a 49-turbine, 98-megawatt (MW) project developed by Houston-based EDP Renewables is now online, producing power under contract to La Crosse-based Dairyland Power Cooperative, whose four-state service area includes 18 member cooperatives and 10 municipal utilities in Wisconsin.

Representing a capital investment of $167 million, EDP’s Quilt Block project will produce enough renewable electricity to power more than 25,000 Wisconsin residences while providing millions of dollars in local aids to the Town of Seymour and Lafayette County, as well as lease payments to participating landowners over the plant’s operating life.

At the Summit, RENEW will honor Quilt Block Wind Farm as Wisconsin’s Renewable Energy Project of the Year. Recognizing the strong collaboration forged by project participants, RENEW will present plaques to representatives of the developer (EDP Renewables), the utility purchaser (Dairyland Power Cooperative), local governments (Town of Seymour, Lafayette County), and participating landowners.


Last year marked the emergence of RENEW Wisconsin’s Solar for Good, a program that provides grants to nonprofit institutions that seek to install solar electric systems on their buildings. Initiated by donations from Deerfield-based philanthropists Cal and Laurie Couillard, Solar for Good awarded 16 grants in 2017 supporting the installation of 573 kilowatts (kW) of new solar electric projects to serve such entities as public charter schools, food pantries, houses of worship, and nursing care facilities.

For their philanthropy that made possible the Solar for Good program, Cal and Laurie Couillard will receive honors as Renewable Energy Champions.

Also set to receive honors as Renewable Energy Champions are John and Mary Frantz, both retired physicians and long-time renewable energy advocates now living in Madison who have been generous supporters of RENEW Wisconsin's work to expand renewable energy.  In recent years, their generosity has taken the form of providing matching donations to “Ride with RENEW,” a fundraising event held in autumn featuring bicycle tours of noteworthy renewable energy projects in Wisconsin.

The recognition segment will also draw attention to other milestones and notable achievements in 2017, including the following:

• All 15 solar arrays built by SoCore Energy (Illinois) and GroSolar (Vermont) under contract to Dairyland Power are now producing electricity. Three of the arrays, located in New Auburn, Phillips, and Roberts, are the state’s largest in operation. 
• Xcel Energy’s Wisconsin utility commissioned a 1 megawatt (MW) array in Eau Claire, which now supplies energy to its shared solar subscribers. 
• SunPeak designed and built the state’s largest rooftop solar electric system in operation, a 1.2 MW array atop the American Family Insurance headquarters building in Madison.
• Eagle Point Solar installed 350 kilowatts (kW) of solar generation atop two schools in the Northland Pines School District, which now has more solar capacity than any other K-12 district in Wisconsin. 
• SunVest Solar and Current Electric teamed up to design and install 800 kW of solar capacity on six rooftops in the Oneida Nation reservation in Brown County.
• Contractors partnered with local nonprofits to launch five residential group solar purchase programs across Wisconsin. Together these initiatives result in 158 installations totaling nearly 1,000 kW of new solar capacity.

“These award winners and honorable projects deserve recognition for the benefits they are bringing Wisconsin’s people and economy,” said Tyler Huebner, RENEW Wisconsin’s Executive Director.  “These honorees are leading the way towards a clean, vibrant, and self-sustaining Wisconsin energy future.”

For more information on the 2018 Summit program agenda, speakers, and registration, please visit http://www.renewwisconsin.org/2018_Summit/index.html.

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RENEW Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization dedicated to renewable energy in Wisconsin. We advance and defend policies and programs that support solar power, wind power, biogas, local hydropower, and geothermal energy. More information is available on RENEW’s Web site at www.renewwisconsin.org.  

Jim Boullion Named RENEW Wisconsin’s Director of Government Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 9, 2018

Jim Boullion Named RENEW Wisconsin’s Director of Government Affairs

MADISON – Renew Wisconsin’s Executive Director Tyler Huebner has named Jim Boullion as Director of Government Affairs to lead the organization’s policy and advocacy efforts in Madison.

“Jim brings us years of experience in Wisconsin politics and a broad network of relationships with utilities, business, labor and other politically active organizations that are critically important in our efforts to advance renewable energy in Wisconsin.” Huebner said.

In his new role, Boullion will be working on state and federal issues to increase the utilization of Wisconsin generated renewable energy that will power a strong, healthy and vibrant Wisconsin through lower energy costs, increased energy security and stable, good paying jobs.

"I joined RENEW because of its leadership role in the exciting changes that are happening in the renewable sectors of the energy industry. Renewable energy technology and pricing has reached a tipping point where it is becoming a mainstream and critical component of our energy mix, now and in the future." commented Boullion.

Jim is a life-long resident of Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison.  He has served as Director of Government Affairs for various trade associations in Wisconsin over the past 25 years, including 16 years with the Associated General Contractors. He is a Past President of the Association of Wisconsin Lobbyists, worked in the Wisconsin State Assembly for 9 years and served in Governor Walker’s administration as Administrator of the Division of Policy Development in the Department of Safety and Professional Services.

RENEW Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing renewable energy in Wisconsin. We work on policies and programs that support solar power, wind power, biogas, local hydropower, and geothermal energy. More information is available on RENEW’s website: www.renewwisconsin.org. 

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Tyler Huebner

tyler@renewwisconsin.org.

(608) 255-4044 x1

  

Jim Boullion

jim@renewwisconsin.org

(608) 255-4044 x4

National Leaders & Wisconsin Executives to Headline January Renewable Energy Summit

Immediate release                                                   
December 19, 2017                                               

More information     
Tyler Huebner, Executive Director

608.255.4044 x 1                                                                                    

tyler.huebner@renewwisconsin.org                                                                                  

National Leaders & Wisconsin Executives to Headline January Renewable Energy Summit

RENEW Wisconsin will host its seventh annual Renewable Energy Summit on Thursday, January 18th, 2018, at Monona Terrace in Madison. The theme of the event, "Connecting to a Powerful Future," will highlight the significant expansion of renewable power underway in Wisconsin, both at the customer and utility level, and the need to broaden connections to continue this momentum.

This one-day event will feature two keynote speakers.

Abby Hopper is the CEO of the national Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) in Washington, DC.  The solar industry has grown at a 20% annual clip the past five years as installation costs have declined rapidly. This is creating great opportunities in up-and-coming markets like Wisconsin!  Abby oversees all of SEIA's activities, including government affairs, research, communications, and industry leadership. SEIA is at the forefront of national solar advocacy, including the recent Federal tax overhaul and import tariff threat.

Jane Bloch is Principal at Tusculum Consulting, where she is a clean energy communications expert. She comes to our Summit to share best practices on how to effectively communicate about clean energy with different audiences.  She has spent the last decade advancing clean energy policies through strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and philanthropic investment. Jane grew up spending her summers in the Northwoods, near Minocqua, where she learned to love canoeing and loon calls.

The event will begin with a recap of 2017 and outlook to 2018 by RENEW Wisconsin’s Board Chair Amy Heart and Executive Director Tyler Huebner. At 9:30am, three Wisconsin utility executives will participate in a panel session discussing their companies’ investments and programs for renewable energy such as wind, solar, and biogas.

WI Utility Executives Roundtable

The lunch panel will feature experts from Wisconsin’s renewable energy industry.

Driving Wisconsin's Renewable Energy Markets

The program will feature networking opportunities with exhibitors and attendees, as well as a social hour following the close of the formal program.

Summit registration is open and over 100 individuals and company representatives have already signed up.  Rates are $125 for Members of RENEW Wisconsin, $155 for non-members, $125 for government and non-profit employees, and $35 for students and elected officials and their staff. Membership with RENEW starts at $35 for individuals and $200 for businesses and organizations.

For more information on the 2018 program agenda, speakers, and registration, please visit   http://www.renewwisconsin.org/2018_Summit/index.html.

An impressive set of corporate and organizational sponsors, showcased on the final page, have signed up to attend.

RENEW Wisconsin Summit Event Sponsors as-of December 18, 2017   

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RENEW Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization which promotes renewable energy in Wisconsin. We work on policies and programs that support solar power, wind power, biogas, local hydropower, and geothermal energy. More information is available on RENEW’s website: www.renewwisconsin.org.