(The Center Square) – Although local renewable energy initiatives in Wisconsin have saved hours of energy and millions in cost reductions, a lack of consistent, statewide reporting data makes it difficult to fully assess project outcomes and taxpayer benefit, according to a report by Wisconsin Policy Forum.
Local governments voluntarily participating in the Department of Natural Resources’ Green Tier Legacy Communities program have reported at least $17 million in energy cost reductions and 40 million kilowatt hours of energy saved – enough power for about 3,300 homes for a year, according to the report.
However, the program’s lack of statewide, standardization led to “challenging” interpretation, with only 13 of 34 participating communities reporting energy or cost savings estimates.
According to the report, standardized transparency and reporting could help communities unlock further public support and critical funding from lawmakers.
“Transparency is especially important for taxpayers, since implementation often requires upfront investment by local governments, even if the project promises long-term savings,” the report says.
While the GTLC program began in 2010 with five communities, it now includes 42 volunteer municipalities statewide.
The program has reported energy projects in LED lighting, solar, building efficiency, and fleet strategies, which are efforts to reduce fuel use, emissions and energy costs from vehicles.
The most effective program to date is water and wastewater treatment, which has had the biggest impact with $14.4 million in cost savings out of the $17 million total reported and 31.7M kWH saved in just fivw communities – enough energy to power 2,600 homes for one year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“Wastewater treatment efficiencies can result in massive reductions in energy purchases because these services are often the largest municipal energy users,” the report finds.
An EPA report found that drinking water and wastewater plants can account for 30% to 40% of total energy consumed in municipal governments.
Renewable energy and especially wastewater treatment loans remain a priority of the state, as more than $700 million for clean water funding was greenlit by the state Legislature’s budget-writing committee for the 2025-27 biennial budget.
“We’ve had significant investments in a couple of my communities for wastewater treatment plants and upgrades in their water systems, but also there’s some unmet demand here,” Joint Finance Committee co-chair Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, said in a meeting.
Marklein cited a report from Legislative Fiscal Bureau, which found that demand for the clean water fund spiked 154 percent over the 10-year average and demand for safe drinking water loan programs reached 325 percent during the 2024 fiscal year.
While the DNR states Wisconsin has provided more than $7.3 billion total in tax dollars since 1991 to assist wastewater infrastructure and environmental programs, Wisconsin Policy Forum’s report states the lack of statewide reporting and data still makes taxpayers’ return on investment hard to determine.
“While reduced energy can be described using dollars and cents (and kilowatt hours), outcomes like improved air and water quality are more complicated to quantify,” the report concludes. “Communicating the costs and potential benefits of energy savings projects to constituents and accessing funding remain a challenge as well as an opportunity for Wisconsin’s local governments.”
• Elijah Guevara is an intern reporter and member of the 2025 Searle Freedom Trust Apprentice and Internship initiative.
