Community Solar Helps Lower Utility Bills in Wisconsin

About the Project

Weatherization Assistance Program agencies in Wisconsin worked with the local electric cooperative and the state energy office to develop a community solar farm, with a quarter of subscriptions reserved for low-income households, including weatherization clients.

Challenge    

Despite the success of their weatherization and energy assistance programs, Couleecap saw that many of their clients still struggled with high electricity bills.

Solution    

Through the Energize Wisconsin program, Couleecap collaborated on the Bluff Prairie Community Solar Farm, a 1.5-megawatt solar array developed by Vernon Electric Cooperative to ensure that a portion of the energy benefits went to their clients. Community solar projects allow households to subscribe or pay a fee that funds a centralized and large-scale solar development. In return, households receive credits on their electricity bills. This model is commonly used for homes or businesses that are unsuitable for rooftop solar due to factors like roof structure, condition, orientation, or shading. It also benefits households unable to bear the cost of solar installation or renters who cannot have their own solar panels. While this model helps households without upfront solar costs, subscription expenses can still pose challenges for low-income families.

Couleecap used funds from the Wisconsin Office of Energy Innovation to purchase 550 solar panel subscriptions. The savings produced from the generated solar energy will be credited to subscribed low-income households that are members of Vernon Electric Cooperative. Most importantly, the program is barrier-free, automatically enrolling eligible households based on their electricity costs and income, without any costs.

Impact    

For the first year, each subscription in the Bluff Prairie Community Solar Farm is expected to generate energy equivalent to $56 in annual utility bill credits. Couleecap is focusing its subscriptions on households with the highest electricity burdens.

The Wisconsin Office of Energy Innovation also awarded funding for a similar project with West Central Wisconsin Community Action Agency and Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services.

This story was developed using content from Couleecap and Vernon Electric Cooperative. Learn more about Couleecap on their website.