Wisconsin passes expanded renewable energy standard
The Wisconsin State Assembly unanimously passed a bill containing a much-expanded renewable energy standard (RES), and Governor Doyle signed the bill on March 17, 2006. According to a well-publicized study by UCS Consultant Chris Deisinger and UCS Director of Research Steve Clemmer, the standard will bring 2,000 jobs to Wisconsin and result in a net savings for consumers after 2017. While the previous standard required only 2.2 percent renewable energy by 2010, the new RES requires that by 2015, 10 percent of Wisconsin's electricity come from renewable sources like wind, biomass, or solar. The law will also increase energy efficiency through a bolstered public benefits fund. UCS and our supporters were critical in pushing for this bill with activits sending more than 700 letters to their state Assembly Members.
