HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM X B. WLGCC GHG PlaybookWisconsin Local Government
Greening the Grid Playbook
Install renewable energy on municipal buildings and
properties
Purchase off-site renewable energy
Incentivize green buildings
RAMPING UP: RENEWABLE ENERGY PROCUREMENT AND
GREEN BUILDING POLICIES
START HERE: PROMOTING COMMUNITY-WIDE
RENEWABLE ENERGY DEPLOYMENT
Sponsor solar group buy programs
Streamline renewable energy processes
Promote existing programs to incentivize and finance
renewable energy deployment
Wisconsin Local Government
Greening the Grid Playbook
This playbook outlines high-impact actions that Wisconsin local governments
can take to support the decarbonization of the electric grid by deploying
renewable energy at various scales. The playbook is informed by input from
Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition members and provides step-by-
step guidance on actions that are organized into three tiers:
Start Here, Ramping Up, and Full Speed Ahead.
FULL SPEED AHEAD: COORDINATION AND ENGAGEMENT
WITH ELECTRIC UTILITIES AND GRID DECISION-MAKERS
Build relationships with electric utilities
Partner on community programs and projects
Submit public comments to regulators
Engage at the legislature
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Acknowledgements
The Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition would like to thank the WLGCC
members who participated in focus groups and reviewed the draft playbook during
spring and summer 2025.
The playbook was developed by the Great Plains Institute. This project has been
funded in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under
assistance agreement XA-00E03850 to WLGCC. The contents of this document do not
necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor
does the Environmental Protection Agency endorse trade names or recommend the
use of commercial products mentioned in this document, as well as any images, video,
text, or other content created by generative artificial intelligence tools, nor does any
such content necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental
Protection Agency.
i
Table of Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 1
Playbook Structure .................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Playbook Purpose ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Why Focus on Electricity? .................................................................................................................................................... 2
Tier 1 — Start Here: Promoting Community-wide Renewable Energy Deployment ............... 5
1.1 Start Here: Sponsor solar group buy programs ................................................................................................ 5
1.2 Start Here: Streamline renewable energy processes .................................................................................. 9
1.3 Start Here: Promote existing programs to incentivize and finance renewable energy
deployment .................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Tier 2 – Ramping Up: Renewable Energy Procurement and Green Building Policies .......... 16
2.1 Ramping Up: Install renewable energy on local government buildings and properties ... 16
2.2 Ramping Up: Purchase off-site renewable energy ................................................................................... 22
2.3 Ramping Up: Incentivize green buildings ....................................................................................................... 25
Tier 3 – Full Speed Ahead: Coordination and Engagement with Electric Utilities and Grid
Decision-Makers .......................................................................................................................................... 29
Who Shapes the Grid? ......................................................................................................................................................... 29
Coordinate with Electric Utility ................................................................................................................................. 30
3.1 Full Speed Ahead: Build relationships with electric utilities ................................................................ 32
3.2 Full Speed Ahead: Partner on community programs and projects ............................................... 35
Engage Grid Decision-Makers to Advance Clean Energy Goals ....................................................... 38
3.3 Full Speed Ahead: Submit public comments to regulators ................................................................. 41
3.4 Full Speed Ahead: Engage at the legislature ................................................................................................ 43
1
Introduction
This playbook is intended to help Wisconsin local governments through different
stages of decarbonizing the electric grid by providing step-by-step guidance on high-
impact actions that support renewable energy deployment at various scales. It is
focused on local government implementation actions—the concrete steps that
municipalities can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across their
communities and beyond. The playbook is informed by interviews, focus groups, and
other input from Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition members.
Playbook Structure
Actions within this playbook are divided into three tiers, designed to make navigating
this playbook and choosing actions easier. However, communities can and should
select actions from any and all tiers depending on their local priorities, available
resources, and previous actions.
1. Start Here: These actions might be considered “low-hanging fruit” and
generally require fewer resources in terms of funding or staff time. They
primarily focus on municipal operations and making it easier for residents
and businesses to install renewable energy.
2. Ramping Up: These actions are a step up from Tier 1 actions and may
require additional resources. Similar to Tier 1 actions, they focus on
municipal operations and policy to encourage renewable energy
deployment among residents and businesses.
3. Full Speed Ahead: These actions are higher effort and higher impact and
may result in policy changes that benefit a municipality beyond its own
borders. They are focused on engaging with utilities and regulators to
expand emissions reductions impacts.
The playbook features step-by-step guidance on actions that local governments can
use to advance change—actions that include leading by example, providing programs
and incentives, updating siting and zoning rules, and advocating for change at the
state, regional, and federal level. The playbook provides real-world community
examples of implementation and success, cost considerations, action-specific
resources and assistance, as well as additional implementation considerations such
as staff time required, department roles, county roles, and potential external
partners. “Power Boost” denotes opportunities to go above and beyond a given
action.
2
If your municipality has a sustainability staff person, it is assumed that they will be
involved in every action, so they are not listed. Other departments are listed but may
have another name or be structured differently depending on the municipality; use
your best judgment about who should be involved in implementing each action.
Playbook Purpose
WHY FOCUS ON ELECTRICITY?
The electricity sector is the highest emitting sector in the State of Wisconsin and in
many communities.1 In Madison, for instance, electricity emissions are 1.5 times
greater than those from transportation, solid waste, water and wastewater,
agriculture, forestry, and land use combined.2 As energy demand increases due to
electrification, data center growth, and new manufacturing, the sector’s emissions
impact will only grow. Currently, three-quarters of Wisconsin’s in-state electricity
generation comes from gas and coal; as such, electricity presents an opportunity for
local governments to make significant emissions reductions through renewable
energy deployment and energy efficiency actions.3
To decarbonize the electricity sector, communities and other actors need to make
changes across the entire electric grid. The electric grid, or ‘the grid’, is the collection
of electricity generation resources and wires that power a community. The grid
consists of five major components: utility-scale generation, transmission, distribution,
end uses, and distributed generation.
1 “Wisconsin Emission Reduction Roadmap,” Environmental Protection Agency, Wisconsin Department
of Administration Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy, accessed September 10, 2025,
https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-03/wi-emission-reduction-roadmap.pdf.
2 “2018 & 2022 Inventory of Community–wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,” City of Madison, accessed
September 16, 2025,
https://www.cityofmadison.com/sustainability/documents/Madison%2020182022%20Community-
Wide%20Greenhouse%20Gas%20Emissions_Final%20%28reduced%29.pdf.
3 “Wisconsin State Energy Profile,” U.S Energy Information Administration, September 19, 2024,
https://www.eia.gov/state/print.php?sid=WI.
Planning and engagement actions are not within the scope of this playbook and
therefore are not detailed here. However, community-focused climate and/or energy
planning can be a useful tool for communities who want a cohesive, unifying path
toward decarbonization. Near-term (less than ten years out), actionable work plans are
recommended to focus municipal efforts and lead to meaningful outcomes. There are
many online resources to help municipalities develop an equitable climate or clean
energy work plan, including the Community Energy Resource Guide from RMI and the
Tool Kit for Equity & Justice in Local Climate Action Planning from Wisconsin Climate
Table.
3
Large-scale
generation resources
that often power a
community.
High-voltage
wires that carry
electricity
across long
distances from
utility-scale
generation to
distribution
lines.
Low-voltage wires
that carry
electricity across
short distances
from transmission
lines to end uses.
Electricity
uses.
Small-scale
generation resources,
also referred to as
distributed energy
resources, often
installed at end uses
and connected to
distribution lines.
As end users, local governments have the most influence over the electricity usage
and distributed generation components. However, by engaging with electric utilities
and other decision-makers, they can influence other components of the grid.
The following table illustrates the changes to the grid that various actors need to take
to decarbonize the electricity sector (“Grid Decarbonization Action”), what role local
governments can play to advance those changes (“Role of Local Government”), and
where local governments can find guidance on each topic within this playbook and
other resources (“Resources for Guidance”).
FIGURE 1: GRID DECARBONIZATION ACTION
Grid Decarbonization
Action Role of Local Government Resources for
Guidance
Utility-Scale
Generation
Decommission fossil
fuel resources
Invest in wind and solar
resources
Invest in battery
storage, enhanced
geothermal, and other
“clean firm” resources
to supplement wind
and solar when the
wind doesn’t blow or
the sun doesn’t shine.
Engagement with utilities and
grid decision-makers
Tier 3
4
Transmission Increase transmission
capacity to build new
renewable resources,
maximize outputs, and
connect communities
with renewable
resources in other
parts of the country
when local outputs are
limited.
Engagement with utilities and
grid decision-makers
Tier 3
Distribution Increase distribution
capacity to build new
distributed generation
and send excess power
from distributed
generation across the
grid.
Engagement with utilities and
grid decision-makers
Tier 3
End Uses Lower electricity
demand through
energy efficiency
measures.
Shift electricity
demand to coincide
with wind and solar
peaks.
Programs and Incentives
Siting and Zoning
Lead by Example
Engagement with utilities and
grid decision-makers
Tiers 1-3
WLGCC’s
Resilient &
Efficient
Building
Municipal
Support
Program
Resources
Distributed
Generation
Accelerate distributed
solar and storage
installations to lower
demand on the grid
and supply excess
power to neighboring
uses and communities.
Programs and Incentives
Siting and Zoning
Lead by Example
Engagement with utilities and
grid decision-makers
Tiers 1-3
5
Tier 1 — Start Here: Promoting Community-wide Renewable
Energy Deployment
There are two primary ways that local governments can reduce emissions: (1) by
changing their own internal policies, infrastructure, and energy consumption to
reduce emissions from municipal operations; and (2) by encouraging action by
residents, businesses, and other private sector entities across the community. The
latter is often an easier place to start, so these Tier 1 actions focus on how local
governments can support renewable energy deployment by non-municipal entities.
1.1 Start Here: Sponsor solar group buy programs
Installing rooftop solar can be a daunting prospect for residents or small business
owners, both because of the process and its cost. Group buy programs allow residents
and businesses to pool their collective buying power and purchase rooftop solar arrays
as part of a group; solar companies gain a cost advantage by providing bulk products
and services, thereby lowering the costs for customers and decreasing the amount of
decisions that must be made to install solar.4,5 With limited effort and cost, local
governments are well positioned to support these programs and increase distributed
solar deployment.
How It Works
A local jurisdiction or nonprofit runs a procurement process to identify a solar installer.
Then, the solar installer and the municipality work together to recruit residents and
businesses that want to install solar. It’s a win-win situation—installers save resources
by doing multiple installations in the same city at a time, and property owners secure
a lower cost for their installations.
Municipalities can coordinate a group buy process on their own or join an existing
program like Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s Grow Solar. Joining an existing
program is cheaper and requires significantly less staff time but provides fewer
opportunities for customization.
4 “What is Group Buy,” Grow Solar, accessed September 16, 2025, https://www.growsolar.org/what-is-a-
group-buy/#how-it-works.
5 “Empowering Your Business and Save Money: The Benefits of Collective Buying,” Padon Alliance,
December 28, 2025, https://www.pandionalliance.com/who-we-are/newsroom/empower-your-
business-and-save-money-the-benefits-of-collective-
buying#:~:text=What%20is%20Collective%20Buying?,and%20fostering%20long%2Dterm%20growth.
6
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE
COMMUNITY EXAMPLES
Solar group buy programs have been very successful in Wisconsin. The Village of
Shorewood has been participating in solar group buy programs for a decade, and is
now part of the Grow Solar Milwaukee-Waukesha group buy region, which has
resulted in 339 solar installations since 2013. When a group buy is ongoing, the village
promotes it via their communication channels. Likewise, Grow Solar Central
Wisconsin, sponsored by the City of Stevens Point, has resulted in 238 solar
installations totaling 1,619 kW since 2017.
The City of Madison designed its own group buy program, called MadiSUN, in 2016.
The program has evolved over the years but currently provides residential solar group
Identify which group buy pathway is the best fit for your community. To
inform this decision, consider your community’s desired outcomes and
available resources.
Joining an existing program
Check if there is an existing group buyprograminyourarea(another localgovernmentmayhavesponsoredonethatworksbeyondtheirmunicipalborders).
If a group buy program exists in your area,reach out to the organizing entity.If not,contact MREA’s Grow Solar program oranotherorganizationtodiscussstartingagroupbuyprograminyourregion.
Once joined, promote the group buy program.
Creating a new program
Identify priorities for the group buy
program.Consider which residents will be
served,which types of renewable energy
will be included,and a timeline.
Reach out to potential partnerorganizations.
Run a procurement process to identify asolarinstaller.
Administer and promote the group buy.
Evaluate success and determine timelineforfuturegroupbuys.
7
buys and solar grants for community organizations. The city pays a local nonprofit
approximately $100-$120k annually to run the program, and it now requires little input
from city staff. City staff estimate that they only spend about 50 hours per year
administering the program, or .5 FTE. Since 2016, the program has helped 353
households install solar and pushed the city closer to its 2050 net-zero goal.6
RESOURCES + ASSISTANCE
Procurement Guidance–Solarize: This resource, from the American Cities Climate
Challenge Renewables Accelerator, provides step-by-step guidance on developing
and managing a solar group buy program and includes specific strategies to make
solar more accessible to low-income residents.
The Solarize Guidebook: Developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
(NREL), this report provides several case studies of municipal solar group buy
programs and includes lessons learned from each. Starting on page 16, the report
highlights specific considerations for designing a program, including pricing,
financing, and partnership guidelines.
Installer Request for Proposal (RFP) Template: This RFP template, from New York
State, is a good starting point for a municipality seeking a solar installer for a group
buy.
METRICS AND DATA
To measure success of a solar group buy program, consider collecting the following
data:
• # of individuals reached through marketing campaigns
• # of homes with solar installed through program
• kW/MW of solar installed through program
• $ saved through group buy vs. individual installations
ADDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
Degree of
Difficulty Minimal to Moderate
6 Gregg May (Sustainability Program Coordinator, City of Madison) in discussion with authors, June 11,
2025.
8
Staff Time
Municipalities that joined an existing program reported that
minimal staff time was necessary to establish the partnership and
promote the program–less than .25 FTE while establishing the
partnership, and significantly less in subsequent years.7
Communities designing their own group buy program will need
more available staff time; however total time required will be
dependent on the scope of the program and partnerships.
Municipalities should also expect that an ongoing program will
take much more time in the first year than it will in subsequent
years.
Cost
Joining an existing group buy program is generally free to the
municipality.
Creating a new program may not incur direct costs if all work is
completed by city staff. (Again, consider the balance of staff time
and payments to partner organizations.) The City of Madison pays
a local nonprofit approximately $100-$120k per year to run their
group buy program.
Departments
Involved Economic development, planning, legal
County Role
Counties can sponsor solar group buy programs just like cities.
They may have more success because they can administer the
program across a broader geographic area, reaching more people
and bringing solar costs down even further. La Crosse County
partnered with the City of La Crosse and City of Onalaska to
sponsor a Grow Solar group buy. Similarly, Dane County helps to
sponsor MadiSUN so that it is available to households beyond the
City of Madison’s borders.
Partners
To join an existing program, municipalities must partner with a
group buy provider like MREA’s Grow Solar program.
To create their own program, municipalities may wish to partner
with a consultant or local nonprofit that can assist with program
design, outreach, functionality, and equitable program delivery.
7 Adam Kuhn (Associate Planner and Zoning Administrator, City of Stevens Point) in discussion with
authors, June 23, 2025.; Rebecca Ewald (Village Manager, Village of Shorewood) in discussion with
authors, June 10, 2025.
9
Power Boost
Consider adding additional incentives to get residents involved or offer
grants for low-income households or community-based organizations
to install solar. If funding allows, these actions will increase solar
deployment, further reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure the
program is equitable and accessible to more residents.
1.2 Start Here: Streamline renewable energy processes
Many municipalities are not aware that their ordinances, zoning code, and permitting
processes present significant barriers to renewable energy deployment. Addressing
these barriers and creating a more supportive regulatory environment for renewable
energy—especially rooftop solar—is a key action to increase deployment.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE
Streamlining renewable energy processes is less about a step-by-step formula and
more about identifying key actions that will address specific issues within your
municipality’s zoning code or permit requirements. Therefore, the actions listed below
are highly recommended, but not all will be necessary for every community.
Furthermore, the alphanumerical labels do not indicate any order of prioritization or
ranking and are solely for organizational and identification purposes. Actions marked
with a star symbol are considered especially important, so consider tackling those first.
Resources and templates are linked for each action when available.
Zoning and Ordinance Actions
1. Conduct a zoning review to identify barriers to solar and battery
storage deployment. SolSmart’s Solar Energy Toolkit provides
helpful information, and all communities that join the SolSmart
program receive a free zoning review.
2. Revise zoning ordinance to remove barriers to solar and battery storage
deployment. Consider using this model ordinance from Dane County as a
guide. Recommended revisions include:
a. Allow accessory use solar by-right in all major zones
b. Reduce aesthetic or performance standards, screening requirements,
limits to visibility, excessive restrictions to system size or rooftop
coverage, glare or glint regulations, and subjective design reviews.
Wisconsin state law prohibits municipalities from enacting renewable
energy regulations that are not related to health or safety.8
c. Prohibit new homeowner associations from enacting renewable energy
regulations that are stricter than municipal standards.
8 “Wisconsin Laws and Polices,” University of Wisconsin-Madison, accessed September 16, 2025,
https://energyonwi.extension.wisc.edu/reset/wisconsin-laws-and-policies/.
10
d. For specific battery storage ordinance guidance, refer to the following
resources:
i. Zoning Practice: Battery Energy Storage Systems from the
American Planning Association
ii. Planning and Zoning for Battery Energy Storage Systems: A Guide
for Michigan Local Governments from the University of Michigan
Graham Sustainability Institute’s Center for Empowering
Communities
iii. Model Ordinance: Utility-Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems
from American Clean Power
3. Optional: Create a large-scale solar siting ordinance that addresses the above
considerations, plus co-benefits opportunities like agrivoltaics. In Wisconsin,
local governments can regulate solar projects under 100 MW.
a. This webinar from Solar@Scale and Solar@Scale: A Local Government
Guidebook for Improving Large-Scale Solar Development Outcomes
provide more guidance for developing a large-scale solar siting
ordinance.
Permitting Actions
1. Post an online permitting checklist for accessory use and large-scale solar.
2. Reduce turnaround time for residential rooftop solar permit applications.
3. Require no more than one permit application form for a small rooftop solar PV
system.
4. Ensure that permit fees are reasonable and not prohibitive.
a. Commercial permit fees for solar should be based on cost-recovery and
capped at a reasonable level. Fees should not be a net revenue source.
b. Consider exempting or waiving fees for residential solar PV permit
applications. Otherwise, ensure they are low enough to be accessible for
all residents seeking solar permits.
Inspection Actions
1. Require no more than one inspection for small rooftop solar PV and reduce
unnecessary inspection delays.
2. Post solar and battery storage inspection requirements online, including the
inspection process and what details inspectors will review.
3. Train fire and safety staff on solar and storage systems.
11
COMMUNITY EXAMPLES
The City of Sun Prairie joined the SolSmart program to streamline their
solar processes in fall 2023. The sustainability and resilience manager
formed an internal team with members of all relevant departments to
help push the process forward; the team met biweekly to coordinate and
completed “homework” in between meetings. With SolSmart’s free technical
assistance, Sun Prairie updated their zoning ordinance to remove barriers to solar,
adopted SolarAPP+ to speed up the permitting process, and increased transparency
by posting a solar landing page on their website. Within eight months, the city
achieved SolSmart Platinum designation.
RESOURCES + ASSISTANCE
Free technical assistance and various trainings and templates are available from
SolSmart. Notable resources include the following:
Permitting and Inspection Training: This recorded training, developed for La Crosse
County, provides strategies for streamlining permitting processes and improving
solar inspections. Permitting and inspection staff should watch the video and
consider how to implement best practices in their work.
Planning and Zoning Training: This recorded training, developed for La Crosse County,
provides strategies for incorporating solar into plans and ordinances. Planning staff
should watch the video and consider how to implement best practices with local
development priorities.
METRICS AND DATA
To measure success of streamlining solar processes, consider collecting the following
data and comparing before and after process updates:
• kW/MW of solar installed
• Number of solar permits issued
• Average solar permit turnaround time
12
ADDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
Degree of
Difficulty Moderate
Staff Time
Dependent on actions taken and the amount of
interdepartmental coordination required. Many communities that
pursue these actions through the SolSmart program take 4-6
months to complete. To complete all actions listed above, we
estimate 100 hours of staff time.
Cost None
Departments
Involved
Planning, permitting. May also require coordination with facilities
management, building inspection, city/county executive, and/or
fire department.
County Role
Counties have limited jurisdiction over solar permitting,
inspection, and planning. However, counties may still support
municipal efforts by providing resources like a permitting
checklist template, hosting trainings, and facilitating county-wide
conversations. Regardless of their land use jurisdictions, counties
can get support with these actions through SolSmart.
Partners The SolarAPP+ Foundation can help communities access free
instant permitting software.
Potential Challenges and Solutions
Wisconsin municipalities cannot regulate solar developments above 100 MW; those
projects are approved and permitted by the Public Service Commission (PSC).
However, local governments can still pass a large-scale solar siting ordinance to
address setbacks, screening, ground cover (i.e., native pollinator habitat), etc. for
projects below 100 MW. Additionally, the PSC may take local priorities into account
when permitting a large-scale solar project, so having a record of community priorities
(e.g., an ordinance) could be useful.
Power Boost
Adopt SolarAPP+ or another instant permitting software (like Symbium)
to speed up permit turnaround times and reduce burden on permitting
staff. Both SolarAPP+ and Symbium are free to municipalities.
13
1.3 Start Here: Promote existing programs to incentivize and
finance renewable energy deployment
Local governments can encourage residents, businesses, and other private entities to
implement renewable energy, energy efficiency, and electrification upgrades by
promoting existing financing and funding programs. This may be an easier initial step
than creating new policies (discussed in Tier 2).
Incentive programs—like those offered by Focus on Energy and various utilities—can
help residents, businesses, and other private entities pay for rooftop solar, energy
efficiency upgrades, electric appliances, and more. Some utilities also offer demand
response programs that enable customers to save money by reducing their energy
use during peak hours of the day and green pricing programs that allow customers
to support utility investments in renewable energy by paying a slight premium (e.g.,
Madison Gas and Electric’s Green Power Tomorrow program).
Local governments can promote existing incentives and other programs via social
media, at events, and through newsletters and websites. Communities should work
with their utility to ensure that educational materials are accessible to groups such as
renters, non-English speakers, and people living in multi-family housing. Program
availability will differ by region and utility. See below for a non-exhaustive list of
programs offered by Focus on Energy and Wisconsin utilities:
Renewable Energy Programs
Madison Gas and Electric
Programs and Offers
Alliant Energy
Renewable Energy Programs
Wisconsin Public Service
Electric Services and Programs
We Energies
Renewable Energy Opportunities
Xcel Energy
All Rebates and Incentives
Solar for Homes Rebates
Wisconsin IRA Home Energy
Rebates
Focus on Energy
Energy Efficiency Rebates
Central WI Electric Coop
14
Property-assessed clean energy (PACE) financing can help more businesses access
clean energy. Per the program’s website, “PACE is an innovative program that enables
property owners to obtain low-cost, long-term loans for energy efficiency, renewable
energy, and water conservation improvements. Projects financed using PACE can
generate positive cash flow upon completion with no up-front, out-of-pocket cost to
property owners—eliminating the financial barriers that typically prevent investment
in revitalizing aging properties.”
The program works by matching open-market lenders with building owners. Building
owners pay a PACE Special Charge to access the low-cost financing, and the financing
travels with the property if it is sold. Eligible property types include commercial, multi-
family housing, non-profit, agriculture, warehouses, hospitals, industrial, and
hospitality, among others. More program details are available on the PACE Wisconsin
website, including guidance on how communities can participate.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE
More than half of Wisconsin’s counties have already enabled PACE financing in their
jurisdictions.9 However, PACE program staff report that since it was enabled so long
ago in some cases, county staff members may not be aware of the program. Even if
your county has already enabled PACE, consider working to promote the program as
detailed in the steps below.
9 “Participating Communities,” PACE Wisconsin, accessed September 16, 2025,
https://www.pacewi.org/participating-communities.html.
For Counties
Pass a resolution authorizing
execution of PACE Joint Powers
Agreement.
Pass the model PACE ordinancethroughcountyboardorsupervisors.
Sign the Joint Powers Agreement.
Promote the PACE program to local building owners and developers.
For Cities/Villages
Encourage county government to
enable PACE financing.
Promote the PACE program to local building owners and developers.
15
COMMUNITY EXAMPLES
PACE has been used across Wisconsin to finance energy efficiency, water
conservation, and renewable energy upgrades at properties ranging from hotels and
apartments to ice rinks and dairies. See project examples on the PACE Wisconsin
website.
RESOURCES + ASSISTANCE
Slipstream, an energy efficiency and climate solutions focused nonprofit organization,
administers PACE Wisconsin. They can provide educational materials for county
officials and assistance in enacting PACE governance documents. Contact Slipstream
PACE staff at info@pacewi.org.
ADDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
Degree of
Difficulty Minimal
Staff Time Minimal
Cost Enabling PACE and promoting existing programs is free for local
governments.
Departments
Involved
Legal, county board of supervisors, economic development,
communications
County Role Counties have the authority to enable PACE financing if it isn’t
already enabled and can promote the program to eligible entities.
Partners
PACE Wisconsin administrator Slipstream, chambers of
commerce and other business organizations, Focus on Energy,
utilities, clean energy nonprofits
16
Tier 2 – Ramping Up: Renewable Energy Procurement and
Green Building Policies
While Tier 1 actions focus on how local governments can encourage climate action
among residents and businesses, Tier 2 actions focus on concrete ways that local
governments can reduce their own emissions through on-site and off-site renewable
energy procurement as well as policies that can further incentivize private sector
clean energy deployment. These actions tend to require more funding and staff time
but are still achievable steps toward grid decarbonization.
2.1 Ramping Up: Install renewable energy on local government
buildings and properties
Adding solar panels, energy efficiency measures, ground-source or air-source heat
pumps, distributed wind turbines, or battery storage to existing municipal buildings
and/or municipally owned land can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy
costs. Many local governments have achieved significant savings by installing solar on
city halls, recreational centers, wastewater treatment plants, fire stations, and other
facilities.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE
Step 1: Conduct a feasibility study to find optimal sites. Before installing renewable
energy projects, it is important to understand which buildings or lots have the ideal
characteristics for a given technology.
For solar energy production, significant tree cover or a north-facing roof may not allow
enough sunlight to access panels; south-facing roofs and non-shaded areas are ideal.
Likewise, distributed wind turbines require large open spaces, and ground-source
heat pumps are most feasible in sites with ample land and certain types of soils.
Determining which factors are relevant to the technology you hope to install and what
criteria must be met for installation happens during a feasibility study.
Remember that renewable energy can be installed in places besides existing
buildings; consider how underutilized space like parking lots, vacant land,
brownfields, or closed landfills may be good locations. Depending on the technology
you hope to install, it may also be important to identify the nearest point of
interconnection to the distribution grid or know the site’s energy usage.
Many communities hire engineering firms to conduct feasibility studies, but there are
resources available for municipalities that want to do it themselves including the
REopt and PVWatts tools from NREL and Google’s Project Sunroof. Solar installers
may also be willing to help you identify the best locations, especially if they are local.
17
Step 2: Reach out to your utility to discuss the project. Generally, the renewable
energy installer will engage with the utility to coordinate interconnection, if necessary,
but it is never a bad idea to build a stronger relationship between your municipality
and the utility.
Municipalities can reach out to their utility directly or contact their Focus on Energy
advisor to discuss solar and energy efficiency measures. (See Full Speed Ahead:
Building relationships with electric utilities for guidance on engaging with utilities
more broadly.)
Additionally, ask the utility about interconnection timelines, if applicable. There are
often significant delays in the interconnection queue, so it is good to know in advance
what to expect. The utility may also have suggestions for financing and funding
options or data that could be useful in determining feasibility and impact.
Step 3: Identify potential financing, funding, and rebate options. Installing
renewable energy and energy efficiency projects can require significant initial
investment.
The project’s “payback period” is an important measure of its financial feasibility.
Payback period “refers to the length of time required before the system has paid for
itself and all future power produced is free.”10 Payback periods vary by technology,
installation cost, project size, and incentives. On average, solar payback periods in the
United States are less than 10 years; payback periods for air-source heat pumps are
less than 20 years but can have significant variation.11
Financing options for a renewable energy project depend heavily on ownership
models. Three ownership models are detailed below; generally, these models can be
used for solar photovoltaic installations, air-source heat pumps, energy efficiency
upgrades, distributed wind projects, and battery storage, though options may vary
slightly based on technology and location.
10 “How Much Money Can I Save With Solar Energy,” U.S Department of Energy, August 1, 2024,
https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/how-much-money-can-i-save-solar-energy.
11 Wilson, Eric J.H. et al. “Heat pumps for all? Distributions of the costs and benefits of residential air-
source heat pumps in the United States,” Joule, Volume 8, Issue 4, April 17, 2024,
https://www.cell.com/joule/fulltext/S2542-4351(24)00049-
7?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2542435124000497%3F
showall%3Dtrue.
18
FIGURE 2: RENEWABLE ENERGY OWNERSHIP MODELS
Direct Ownership Performance
Contracting Municipal Lease
Description The municipality owns the
installation from day one
and is responsible for all
aspects of the project.
Municipality owns all
RECs and can count them
towards emissions
accounting.
Municipality enters
an energy savings
performance
contract (ESPC) with
an energy service
company (ESCO)
wherein energy
savings are
guaranteed to equal
or exceed the cost of
the payments for the
installation.
Similar to direct
ownership, but
municipality leases
installation from the
installer until it is paid off.
This is contracted
through a tax-exempt
equipment lease.
Municipality owns
installation after it is paid
off.
Funding
and
Financing
Options
Bond financing, tax
revenue, or grant funding.
Little-to-no upfront
funding required.
Payments may be
funded through
bond financing, tax
revenue, grant
funding, or energy
cost savings.
Little-to-no upfront
funding required.
Payments may be
funded through bond
financing, grant funding,
or tax revenue.
While not a financing tool, net metering is another way that municipalities
can reap the financial benefits of their investment.
Consider all potential ownership models and funding opportunities carefully to
determine which model best aligns with community priorities and available funding.
Some funding sources, like utility rebates, may require relinquishing the renewable
energy credits (RECs) produced by the installation. This is important for local
governments to be aware of, because if they do not own the RECs, they cannot count
the emissions reductions from the installation toward its greenhouse gas inventory.
19
Step 4: Run a procurement process. Issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify a
company to install your project.
Ensure your RFP aligns with and specifies your preferred ownership model. There are
many model RFP templates for renewable energy procurement, including these from
American Cities Climate Challenge and Clean Energy Resource Teams.
Step 5: Construction. Build the project.
Municipal involvement will vary based on the ownership model. For direct ownership,
municipal staff will need to manage contractors and the construction process. For
other ownership models, this step may not require much from the municipal
government except oversight and responding to any community concerns that arise.
Step 6: Operations and Maintenance. Municipalities with renewable energy
installations should have a plan for operations and maintenance.
Municipalities can contract with the installer or another entity for ongoing
maintenance or identify an entity that can provide these services as needed.
Maintenance may be automatically included in an energy savings performance
contract or lease.
For ground-mount solar or distributed wind projects, there are additional
considerations: at the end of its service (25-30 years), the installation will need to be
decommissioned.12 The system owner is typically responsible for decommissioning.
Vegetation maintenance will be necessary throughout the installation’s lifespan;
consider how this might be accomplished (by city staff or contracting an outside
entity) and if sheep grazing or native pollinator habitat might align with community
land use priorities.
For battery storage installations, municipalities must engage in fire planning and
prepare for incident response. Battery fires require different fire response protocols for
effective management; ensure that local fire departments are trained accordingly.
Visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s website to learn more about battery
storage safety considerations.
Step 7: Evaluation. Have a plan in place to measure the success of the project.
Standard inverters track solar and wind production; municipalities can get monthly
production data from the utility or install a more advanced inverter that sends to-the-
minute data to a webpage. The latter allows local officials and residents to see the
impact of the project.
12 Emily Walker, Casey McDevitt, “How long do solar panels last?,” Energy Sage, August 14, 2025,
https://www.energysage.com/solar/how-long-do-solar-panels-last/.
20
COMMUNITY EXAMPLES
The City of La Crosse, WI installed solar on several municipal facilities, including fire
stations, the main library, the municipal service center, and park facilities. The city
partnered with Johnson Controls through an energy savings performance contract
and used both tax-exempt equipment leases and bond financing for different
projects. Learn more about this case study here.
The following cities offer example project costs:
• The City of Sun Prairie, WI installed a 67 kW rooftop solar array on their city
hall in December 2018. Based on the past six years of solar production data, the
system is on track to pay for itself within 21 years. (This calculation does not
include any incentives or rebates).13
• The City of Wauwatosa, WI installed a 389 kW rooftop solar array on their city
hall complex, which includes the civic center and library. The project cost
$740,000.14
• The City of Stevens Point, WI installed an 8 kW solar canopy at a local park.
The project, which includes one EV charger powered by solar arrays cost
$85,000.15
RESOURCES + ASSISTANCE
Focus on Energy provides rebates and discounts for many energy efficiency and
renewable energy technology installations.
Additionally, many utilities offer rebates for interconnected renewable energy
installations. Check with your utility to learn more.
Note: Sometimes receiving a utility rebate for a renewable energy project, like a solar
installation, requires the recipient to relinquish any RECs produced by the project to
the utility. Depending on your municipality’s goals, this may or may not be an issue.
(For example, an entity must own the RECs produced by their renewable energy
project to count the project towards emissions reduction goals.) Read the fine print
carefully before accepting a rebate and ensure any stipulations align with municipal
goals.
13 Rose Daily (City Administrator, City of Sun Prairie) in discussion with the authors, June 2025.
14 “Wisconsin town offsets 50% of municipal energy use with rooftop solar,” University of Wisconsin-
Extension, February 23, 2022, https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/cwsn/2022/02/23/wisconsin-town-offsets-50-
of-municipal-energy-use-with-rooftop-solar/.
15 Morgan Johnson, “Solar canopy shelter installed at new Stevens Point Park,” WIFW, June 26, 2024,
https://www.wjfw.com/news/solar-canopy-shelter-installed-at-new-stevens-point-
park/article_81945486-33c2-11ef-b8d5-071613020ebf.html.
21
On-Site Solar Procurement Guidance from American Cities Climate Challenge. This
resource provides step-by-step guidance and templates for procuring municipal
solar.
Performance Contracting and Energy Service Agreements from the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). This resource explains performance contracting and how
municipalities can use it to finance renewable energy projects.
Energy Equipment Leases from the EPA. This resource explains energy equipment
leases and how municipalities can use them to finance renewable energy projects.
ADDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
Degree of
Difficulty Moderate to Significant
Staff Time
Staffing is highly variable and depends on how much work is done
by a contractor (engineering firm or installer) and how much is
done by municipal staff. Generally, determining feasibility takes 3-
6 months, based on conversations with municipalities that have
conducted feasibility studies. It can take up to a year to have an
operational installation. Construction is typically the quickest part
of this process, taking just days; installer timelines, utility
interconnection delays, worker availability and supply chain delays
make up the rest.
Cost
Costs may vary depending on technology and ownership model.
Energy savings performance contracts or leases may not incur
additional charges beyond average utility costs before the
installation.
Solar panel installations cost an average of $3.03 per watt in
Wisconsin (as of September 11, 2025).16 Large installations tend to
be somewhat cheaper than smaller installations.
Departments
Involved
Facilities management, planning, building inspection, city/county
executive, economic development, emergency management
County Role Counties can implement renewable energy projects on county-
owned properties.
16 “The cost of solar panels in Wisconsin (2025),” Energy Sage, September 9, 2025,
https://www.energysage.com/local-data/solar-panel-cost/wi/.
Costs may change with impending tariffs.
22
Power Boost
Consider how local government owned solar paired with battery storage
can provide resilience benefits; some government buildings with solar
panels may be able to serve as resilience hubs in case of natural disasters
or grid outages. Conduct a resilience assessment to understand who
may be at risk in your community and then work with the emergency management
department to ensure they are aware of the potential benefits of installing a solar +
storage system at critical municipal facilities.
2.2 Ramping Up: Purchase off-site renewable energy
Installing solar on local government-owned sites is an ideal emissions reduction
strategy because it leads to net-new renewable energy generation and increases
energy reliability and community resilience. However, some communities may not
have available space to install solar panels, or they may not have appropriate funding.
In these cases, purchasing off-site renewable energy is an alternative option to reduce
municipal emissions, especially as an interim action while preparing for on-site solar
projects.
Before purchasing off-site renewable energy, ensure your local government
understands the trade-offs, as it can have important implications for greenhouse gas
emission accounting.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE
There are multiple ways to purchase off-site renewable energy, and some are more
impactful than others. Two options are provided below, with additional information
and caveats to consider.
Preferred Option: Purchase renewable energy from a utility through a green
tariff program.
These programs allow larger retail customers (often including municipalities) to
purchase renewable energy from utilities. The utility will build renewable energy
generation or procure renewable energy for you at an agreed-upon rate that is usually
comparable to the standard rate. Currently Alliant Energy, We Energies, Madison Gas
and Electric, and Xcel Energy offer green tariff programs in Wisconsin. Talk to your
utility to understand options for your municipality.
Note: Some utilities offer all customers (including residents) the option to pay an
additional fee for renewable energy (e.g., Alliant Energy’s Second Nature program).
This action does not refer to those programs, but rather to programs that allow large
customers specifically to purchase significant amounts of renewable energy.
23
Alternative Option: Purchase renewable energy credits.
Municipalities may be able to purchase RECs from their utility, independently, or
through a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) (also called a financial PPA).
Purchasing through a utility is preferred because it requires less verification by the
municipality.
Important caveats to consider:
1. RECs should always be bundled. Bundled RECs include the electricity that is
produced by renewable generation, while unbundled RECs are environmental
benefits sold separately from the generated electricity. Unbundled RECs
cannot be counted in a municipality’s GHG inventory and are not
recommended. Learn more about REC purchasing guidelines from ICLEI.
2. RECs have important implications for GHG accounting. Bundled RECs can be
counted in a municipality’s GHG inventory, but only if another emissions
inventory excluding RECs is also provided.
3. VPPAs are not yet commonly used by Wisconsin municipalities, but they
provide a legal off-site renewable energy alternative for communities without
the ability to install their own solar panels.
COMMUNITY EXAMPLES
The cities of Madison and Sun Prairie, WI purchased RECs to meet their clean energy
goals. About a third of Madison’s 100% renewable energy goal is met with RECs
purchased through OneEnergy Renewables, while 22% of the city’s electricity is
provided through Madison Gas Electric’s green tariff program—the Renewable Energy
Rider program.17
RESOURCES + ASSISTANCE
Buying Clean Electricity: How Cities Benefit from Power Purchase Agreements from
the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
This report provides a detailed overview of PPA models and how cities can take
advantage of them. This is a general resource and does not include Wisconsin-specific
legal context.
A Local Government’s Guide to Off-Site Renewable PPA Risk Mitigation from RMI
This report highlights the potential risks of virtual PPAs and how local governments
can navigate them. While virtual PPAs should not be viewed as scary or risky, they can
be somewhat complex, so this is a good read for any local government staff
considering this method of clean energy procurement.
17 “Renewable Energy,” City of Madison, accessed September 16, 2025,
https://www.cityofmadison.com/sustainability/energy/renewable-energy.
24
METRICS AND DATA
To measure the success of purchasing off-site renewable energy, consider collecting
the following data:
• kW/MW of renewable energy purchased and the percent of municipal energy
use this comprises
• Where is the purchased renewable energy produced?
ADDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
Degree of
Difficulty Minimal
Staff Time Depends on chosen pathway, but generally minimal.
Cost
Purchasing renewable energy from your utility is a great strategy
because it does not typically require significant additional
investment. Utilities may charge slightly more per kWh for
renewable energy through a green tariff program, but these costs
may be easily absorbed into the municipal budget.
Purchasing RECs may not incur significant additional costs either,
but the financial mechanisms can be more complicated—
especially if a municipality is entering into a virtual PPA.
Departments
Involved
Facilities management (or whichever department coordinates
with utilities)
County Role Counties can take the same renewable energy procurement
actions as cities and villages.
Partners A utility or electricity producer (i.e., solar developer) if pursuing a
virtual PPA.
Potential Challenges and Solutions
Wisconsin state law does not explicitly address third-party renewable energy, but
utilities have argued that it would infringe on their monopoly rights. The PSC has
previously weighed in on the issue, but it remains tied up in litigation. As such, third-
party renewable energy options like physical PPAs are not currently feasible. Virtual
PPAs are an option, but are more complicated and it may take more time to get local
government officials on board.
25
Additionality is another key challenge and consideration. When purchasing off-site
renewable energy—and especially when a municipality is doing so to meet clean
energy goals—it is important that the renewable energy is being produced because
the municipality purchased it and would not have been produced otherwise. This
ensures that new renewable energy is being added to the grid to meet broader
climate goals. Additionality is complex. To learn more, check out the resources below:
Green Tariffs and Additionality: Do Voluntary Renewable Programs Accelerate the
Energy Transition? from the NC Clean Energy Technology Center
Indicators of Clean Electricity Procurement That Drives New Supply from the Center
for Resource Solutions
2.3 Ramping Up: Incentivize green buildings
To encourage renewable energy deployment in private development, local
governments can create incentives for developers who construct highly energy
efficient or solar-ready buildings. “Solar-ready buildings” are buildings that are
designed for solar installation—though the solar may not be installed during
construction.18 They have features like ample available roof space for solar panels, an
appropriate roof type, and an orientation toward the sun. These design considerations
are inexpensive if included in early building design and enable solar development
later in the building’s lifespan. This is important because it is much easier and less
expensive to ensure a building is solar-ready during construction than to retrofit it
later.
Note: The resources developed through WLGCC’s Resilient & Efficient Buildings
Municipal Support Program provide more in-depth information about how local
governments can promote more resilient and efficient private building development
through local policy. This playbook only covers solar-ready development.
18 Watson, Andrea et al., “Solar Ready: An Overview of Implementation Practices,” National Renewable
Energy Laboratory, January 2012, https://docs.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/51296.pdf.
26
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE
Below provides guidance on enacting policies to incentivize renewable energy.
Step 1: Create a policy development team
and prepare. Offering incentives will likely
require policy development, which can be a
long process.19
Consider what would make this process more
streamlined within your municipal
government; creating a “task force” to
conduct research on potential options and
make recommendations to city council
might be one solution.
Step 2: Define terms. Before designing
incentives, consider what the terms “solar-ready,” “sustainable building,” and “energy
efficient” mean to your municipality.
Create definitions with specific parameters for each applicable term; these
parameters will serve as the criteria by which developers qualify for incentives. For
instance, if you plan to incentivize solar-ready development, establish a minimum
available roof space and designate appropriate roof types and orientation measures
that a development must meet to qualify for incentives.
For guidance, check out:
1. Sustainable Development Code’s Solar-Ready Construction Code
2. The City of La Crosse, WI Solar Ready Guide
3. The City of La Crescent, MN Solar Ready Home Certification
4. U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Standards
Step 3: Decide which incentives you will offer. There are several possible
mechanisms to encourage sustainable or solar-ready buildings, including:
1. Waive or discount permitting fees for new developments and retrofits that
meet criteria.
2. Expedite review or permitting processes for new developments and retrofits
that meet criteria.
3. Offer density bonuses for new developments that meet criteria.
19 “Powers of Municipalities FAQ 2,” League of Wisconsin Municipalities, accessed September 16, 2025,
https://www.lwm-info.org/1243/Powers-of-Municipalities-FAQ-2.
It is illegal in Wisconsin for municipalities
to set building code requirements that are
more stringent than the state code (i.e.,
stretch codes are not allowed). However,
local governments can encourage solar-
ready or more energy efficient buildings
through incentives, as this action
describes. As a note, property tax
abatement is often prescribed as a
sustainable building incentive, but waiving
or reducing property taxes is also
prohibited by Wisconsin law.
27
a. Density bonuses are an incentive tool that allows developers to exceed
the maximum allowed development on a given property (e.g., add more
floors or more units than code allows) if they meet specific goals that
benefit the public.
4. Set additional requirements for tax increment financing (TIF) policies that
address energy efficiency, resilience, and/or sustainability.
5. Partner with a lending institution (like a local credit union) to offer low-interest
loans for residential energy efficiency upgrades and/or rooftop solar.
a. This action is a great complement to enabling PACE financing, which is
only available for commercial properties.
b. Example: The City of Milwaukee offers low-interest loans for residential
solar (MKE Shines) and energy efficiency improvements (ME2) in
partnership with Summit Credit Union.
Step 4: Enact incentive(s) via appropriate legislative process.
Step 5: Conduct outreach among developers and property owners to let them
know about the available incentive(s).
COMMUNITY EXAMPLES
Local government solar-ready incentive mechanisms for buildings:
• The City of Northbrook, IL offers permit fee rebates based on LEED
certification level.
• The City of Middleton, WI offers a maximum height allowance for net zero-
ready buildings. The Village of McFarland, WI allows extra height for buildings
with solar.20
RESOURCES + ASSISTANCE
Government Policy Tracker: This database developed for WLGCC’s Resilient & Efficient
Buildings Municipal Support Program shares examples of sustainable building
policies and incentives from across the country.
Incorporating Building Efficiency, Resilience and Sustainability into Wisconsin TIF
Policies: WLGCC commissioned this report to highlight how other Wisconsin
municipalities have used TIF to incentivize sustainable building development.
Tax Incremental Financing Wisconsin Policy Basics: WLGCC resource that provides
more information about how TIF works in Wisconsin.
20 “Resilient and Efficient Buildings Program Government Policy Tracker,” Wisconsin Local Government
Coalition, accessed September 16, 2025, https://wlgcc.org/reci-resources-policy-tracker.
28
ADDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
Degree of
Difficulty Moderate to Significant
Staff Time
Depending on how supportive city leadership is of the initiative,
this action may require significant staff time in advance of
enactment. After the policies are adopted, staffing required for
implementation may vary depending on the type of policy and
community context.
Cost
These actions do not cost anything outright, but waiving or
reducing permitting fees may lead to a slight decrease in
municipal revenue.
Departments
Involved Legal, city/county executive, planning, permitting, finance
County Role
Counties can utilize many of the strategies included in this action.
Policies involving permitting fees may not be particularly relevant
or impactful for counties, but they can draft model policies for
cities and towns and serve as a thought leader.
29
Tier 3 – Full Speed Ahead: Coordination and Engagement with
Electric Utilities and Grid Decision-Makers
Local governments have limited control or authority over most components of the
electric grid. However, local governments are large electricity users with the authority
to implement energy programs, policies, and plans. These characteristics make them
well-positioned to build trusted partnerships with electric utilities and provide unique
input to local, state, and regional decision-makers that shape the grid, thereby
resulting in greater emissions reductions than if local governments worked alone.
Who Shapes the Grid?
The grid that powers a community spans far beyond a single utility service area and
even beyond a single state, meaning several entities are involved in shaping the grid.
In Wisconsin, the following entities have jurisdiction over the grid:
Electric Utilities
An electric utility serves as the sole electricity provider for its service territory, which
may be confined to a single municipality, but often spans multiple municipalities.
There are three types of electric utilities: investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities,
and rural electric cooperatives. Communities can learn which type of utility they have
by using the PSC’s electric service territories tool.
A utility owns and procures electricity generation resources to meet the needs of its
service territory and owns and manages the local distribution grid.
Utility Regulator
Utilities are regulated by a state commission or local boards. These entities regulate
utilities by setting minimum standards for service and reviewing utilities’ proposals to
increase or decrease electricity customer rates. In Wisconsin, utilities are regulated as
follows:
The PSC also approves or rejects
proposals to build utility-scale
generation and transmission projects in
the state, even those proposed by rural
electric cooperatives or independent
companies.21
State Legislature
Utilities and utility regulators must comply with state legislation.
21 Wis. Stat. § 196.491 https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/196/491/3.
PSC Board
Investor-owned utility X
Municipal utility X
Rural electric cooperative X
30
Regional Transmission Organization
A utility must comply with rules set by its regional transmission organization (RTO)—
a non-profit, independent entity responsible for operating and planning the
transmission grid and maintaining reliable and affordable electricity across the region.
Utilities and transmission companies in Wisconsin are members of the Midcontinent
Independent System Operator (MISO), the RTO for 15 states across the Midwest and
Southern U.S.
Federal Commission
MISO is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)—an
independent federal agency.
The remainder of this section provides guidance on how local governments can best
engage each of these entities to achieve their objectives.
Coordinate with Electric Utility
In Wisconsin and in most states across the country, one electric utility serves as the
sole electricity provider for its service territory.22 Through this jurisdiction, utilities own
or control several components of the grid, making them critical to decarbonizing the
electricity sector.
Utilities are key to increasing distributed and utility-scale clean energy resources for
the following reasons:
Utilities own, or procure through other
sources, the generation resources that
largely power a community.
Utilities control the make-up of the local
generation mix. Utilities both own generation
resources and secure power from independent
power producers through power purchase
agreements.
Only utilities can sponsor community
solar projects in Wisconsin.
Community solar projects allow multiple
subscribers to access distributed solar, even if it is off-site. These projects are critical to
serving electricity users that cannot install distributed solar because they are renters,
cannot afford the full cost of installations, or lack suitable land for solar.
22 “Community Choice Aggregation,” Environmental Protection Agency, accessed September 15, 2025,
https://www.epa.gov/green-power-markets/community-choice-aggregation.
Rural electric cooperatives and
generation resources
Most communities served by rural
electric cooperatives are served by
distribution cooperatives, which do not
own generation resources. Instead,
these cooperatives purchase power
from generation and transmission
cooperatives, such as Dairyland Power
Cooperative. While distribution
cooperatives do not make investment
decisions themselves, they are part-
owners of generation and transmission
cooperatives and contribute to their
decision-making.
31
The State of Wisconsin, as is common in most states across the country, does not have
community solar enabling legislation, meaning only electric utilities can sponsor
community solar projects.23
Utilities establish net-metering rules.
Net-metering is a billing mechanism through which distributed energy resource
(DER) owners can sell excess power back to their utility. Strong net-metering policies
can provide a financial incentive to electricity users to install DERs and allow utilities
to defer or avoid some large-scale generation investments.24
The PSC requires all municipal and investor-owned utilities to allow net-metering, but
utilities are responsible for setting the rates at which they buy back electricity. A
utility’s net-metering rules can be found in their net metering tariff, which can be
accessed through the PSC’s utility tariffs webpage.
While rural electric cooperatives are not required to establish net-metering rules, they
can and often do set their own rules.
Utilities establish DER interconnection rules
Before DERs can be installed and connected to the distribution grid, they must be
studied and approved by the local utility through a DER interconnection process. DER
interconnection processes impact the speed and scale at which DERs can be installed.
The PSC requires all municipal and investor-owned utilities to set minimum standards
for DER interconnection, but utilities can go beyond those standards.
While rural electric cooperatives are not required by the PSC to establish DER
interconnection rules, they can and often do set their own rules.
Local governments can coordinate with their electric utilities in two key ways:
1. Build relationships
2. Partner on community projects and programs
23 David Sarkisian, “Where Community Solar Stands Across the States in Early 2025,” DSIREinsight, May
29, 2025, https://www.dsireinsight.com/blog/2025/5/29/where-community-solar-stands-across-the-
states-in-early-2025.
24 “Review of Recent Cost-Benefit Studies Related to Net Metering and Distributed Solar,” U.S.
Department of Energy, May, 2018,
https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2020/06/f75/ICF%20NEM%20Meta%20Analysis_Formatted%20FI
NAL_Revised%208-27-18.pdf.
32
3.1 Full Speed Ahead: Build relationships with electric utilities
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE
By building strong relationships
with their electric utility, local
governments can identify
partnership opportunities and
deepen their understanding of
grid issues.
Step 1: Meet with utility to discuss shared objectives. Most utilities have a
designated staff person to manage relationships with local governments. Local
governments can contact this person to schedule an initial meeting to discuss shared
objectives. Local governments and utilities may seek to achieve several objectives,
including the following:
1. Provide community solar, energy efficiency incentives, and other projects and
programs to the public
2. Improve education and outreach for energy programs
3. Alleviate barriers to DER installations
4. Discuss utility proposals at the PSC
5. Share data on relevant programs, policies, and plans
Step 2: Develop plan to meet shared objectives. Local governments and utilities
should develop a plan to meet shared objectives and decide on the following:
1. Should you establish regular meetings or schedule meetings as needed?
2. Is a formal coordination agreement necessary to ensure objectives are met?
3. Would city or county leadership benefit from a presentation from the utility?
Step 3: Ensure meetings are productive. Before meetings, ensure the agenda is clear
and determine which local government and utility staff are needed for the discussion.
For example, if the intention of the meeting is to discuss a utility’s net-metering policy,
utility staff with knowledge of the policy should be present.
COMMUNITY EXAMPLES
The approach a local government takes to establish a working relationship with their
utility depends on their utility context. Here are two different approaches local
governments may consider.
All five of Wisconsin’s investor-owned utilities have
carbon reduction goals. Local governments play a
key role in holding utilities accountable to their
publicly announced GHG emission reduction goals. All
five of Wisconsin’s investor-owned utilities have
carbon reduction goals. Local governments can
publicly celebrate utilities when they make progress
on their goals and express concerns when utilities
make decisions that may be counter to their goals.
33
Signing a Formal Agreement with the Utility
The Cities of Eau Claire, La Crosse, and Madison all have Memorandums of
Understanding (MOUs) with their electric utilities, through which they identified areas
of common interest and agreed to collaborate. All three MOUs include plans to
develop a list of deliverables, minimum requirements for how often parties will meet,
and agreements to seek necessary regulatory approvals in a cooperative manner.
Writing a Letter to the Utility
The City of Milwaukee is served by We Energies—the largest electric utility in the
State of Wisconsin.25 In order to establish an open line of communication with We
Energies, the City of Milwaukee partnered with other large electricity users with
aligned goals—the County of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District,
and Milwaukee Area Technical College—to increase their leverage. In 2018, leaders
from all four entities wrote a joint letter to the CEO of We Energies to express their
objectives, which led to a meeting that initiated a working relationship amongst the
five entities.
RESOURCES + ASSISTANCE
Memorandum Of Understanding Between City of Madison and Madison Gas and
Electric: MOU between the City of Madison and Madison Gas and Electric.
Utilizing City-Utility Partnership Agreements to Achieve Climate and Energy Goals:
This working paper from the World Resources Institute provides information on the
value of city-utility partnerships, guidance on how to structure formal agreements,
and examples of communities that have formed city-utility partnerships.
ADDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
Degree of
Difficulty Minimal
Staff Time Minimal staffing is needed.
Cost None
Departments
Involved Legal, city/county executive
County Role Counties can also build relationships with their utilities and
include cities and villages in the conversations, as appropriate.
Partners Utility, large utility customers
25 “Contact us,” We Energies, accessed September 16, 2025, https://www.we-
energies.com/secure/ssl/contact.
34
Potential Challenges and Solutions
Challenge: Smaller communities may face challenges when trying to establish
regular meetings with utilities.
Solution: Utilities may be more responsive to meeting if other large customers are
involved. Local governments can identify other large customers of their electric utility
with overlapping goals, which may include other local governments, colleges, or
industrial users.
Power Boost
Deepen understanding of utility motivations by joining peer learning
cohorts that focus on utility or grid issues.
Examples
Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition
MISO Cities and Communities Coalition
Urban Sustainability Directors Network
Unsure who your utility’s largest electric customers are?
All public utilities are required to file a list of their twenty largest
customers to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) by
January 31 of every year. A utility's list, called Form 566, can be accessed
as follows:
Navigate to FERC's e-library
> Input “January 1-Feburary 1” of the given year under “Select Data
Range”
> Input “Form 566 of [Insert Utility Here]” under Keyword Seach
> Enter “Search”
Tip: Utilities file under their publicly registered company name, which
can be found through the PSC Electric Service Territories tool.
35
3.2 Full Speed Ahead: Partner on community programs and
projects
Local governments may partner with their utility on a variety of community programs
and projects. A community solar project is one key example of such a partnership. In
the State of Wisconsin, only utilities can own and operate community solar. However,
local governments still have the following roles to play to develop community solar
projects:
Landowner Local governments can lease city or county-owned land for
community solar projects.
Coordinator
and champion
Utilities may not be motivated to develop community solar
on their own. Local governments can use their influence as
large electricity customers and governing bodies to
champion community solar projects.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE
Step 1: Meet with utility. Determine the utility’s level of interest in developing a
community solar project and/or sharing information to support a feasibility study. For
a feasibility study, local governments will require data on the distribution grid to
determine where there is existing capacity and where there are potential points of
interconnection for new community solar projects.
Step 2: Identify suitable city- or county-owned land. Suitable land includes parcels
that are undeveloped and are unlikely to be used for other purposes, such as
brownfields or closed landfills. Sites should be 5-50 acres, as community solar projects
typically require 5-10 acres/MW and tend to be 1-5 MW total.
A local government’s path to identifying potential sites depends on whether datasets
are readily available and whether there is support from GIS staff and other
departments to identify suitable sites. Local governments with limited available data
or staffing support may identify potential sites in the following way:
1. Access city or county-owned land parcel data from city or county assessor’s site
or through the county’s records of deeds.
2. Use city or county land use map to identify vacant land parcels.
3. Use FEMA floodplain maps to exclude parcels susceptible to flooding.
36
Step 3: Conduct a feasibility study. Feasibility studies can take considerable
expertise. To conduct a feasibility study with minimum cost and staffing, communities
can either apply for technical assistance or conduct a basic feasibility study on their
own.
Option 1: Apply for technical assistance
To conduct a comprehensive, no-to-low cost feasibility study, communities can apply
for grants or free programs to receive technical assistance from NREL or other
experienced agencies or engineering firms.
Option 2: Conduct a basic feasibility study
Opportunities for free-to-no cost feasibility studies may not always be available.
Communities can make a rough estimate of solar feasibility by utilizing NREL’s REopt
and PVWatts tools.
Step 4: Share results of feasibility study with utility. If the utility is interested in
developing the project, local governments can draft a leasing agreement and
coordinate on project development. See the City of Milwaukee for one example of a
solar lease agreement. If the utility is not interested in developing a project at this
time, maintain results of the feasibility study in case future opportunities arise.
COMMUNITY EXAMPLES
The City of Eau Claire partnered with its utility, Xcel Energy, to develop the Solar*
Connect Community Solar Garden—a 1 MW community solar project on a seven-acre,
city-owned closed landfill. In addition to the City of Eau Claire, the University of
Wisconsin-Eau Claire served as an early subscriber to the project.
The feasibility study for the city-owned site was conducted by NREL and funded
through a grant awarded by the EPA. The Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources provided support to secure the grant.
RESOURCES + ASSISTANCE
Free trainings on how to use NREL’s solar feasibility tools:
• PVWatts Calculator
• Introduction to the REopt Web Tool | REopt | NREL
37
ADDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
Degree of
Difficulty Moderate
Staff Time
Staffing time depends on whether local governments receive
technical assistance for feasibility studies and how proactive their
utility is in bringing the project to fruition.
Cost Cost may vary and depend on level of support from utility and
staff time required.
Departments
Involved Planning, economic development, finance, city/county executive
County Role Counties can partner with their utility on projects in the same way
that cities and villages can.
Partners
Utility; large utility customers; NREL or other entity that can
provide technical assistance on feasibility study; third-party, such
as state agency or non-profit, may be needed to secure grant
Potential Challenges and Solutions
Challenge: Smaller communities may not have sufficient leverage or land to initiate
community solar projects
Solution: Identify other large customers of your electric utility who may also be
interested in partnering on a community solar project.
38
Engage Grid Decision-Makers to Advance Clean Energy Goals
In addition to engaging electric utilities directly, local governments can engage
decision-making entities that shape the grid.26 All major investor-owned utilities in
Wisconsin have voluntary goals to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.27 However, as of
2025 the state does not have a clean energy standard in place that mandates the
achievement of these goals. This puts the achievement of local clean energy goals at
risk. Engaging grid decision-makers about how broader decisions can impact local
goals is an important strategy to increase awareness and keep utilities and regulators
accountable to the communities they ultimately serve. The following table illustrates
how each entity can impact local governments’ objectives related to different
components of the grid.
26 This playbook does not provide guidance on engaging rural electric cooperative boards because each
rural electric cooperative is unique. Local governments can learn more about their rural electric
cooperative governance structure by checking out the Rural Power Coalition Co-Lab series. The second
module “Co-op Governance & Scorecards” can help local governments determine how open and
transparent their cooperative board’s decision-making process is.
27 “Strategic Energy Assessment,” Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, November 2022,
https://apps.psc.wi.gov/ERF/ERFview/viewdoc.aspx?docid=451939.
39
FIGURE 3: GRID DECISION-MAKERS’ IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
PSC State Legislature MISO
Utility-Scale
Generation
Rejects or approves
proposals to build large-
scale generation projects
Implements laws regarding
planning, siting, and
approval of utility-scale
generation resources
Sets Renewable Portfolio or Clean
Energy Standard
Passes legislation that can impact
the PSC’s authorities and utility
requirements
Facilitates wholesale energy markets, which determine
what generation resources power a community second-
to-second
Sets rules that impact the expected rate of return for
different types of generation resources
Studies and approves utility-scale generation resources
through its interconnection queue
Transmission Approves or rejects
proposals to build
transmission lines
Can pass legislation to speed up
permitting process for transmission
siting
Plans transmission lines to meet the needs of the future
energy system
Distribution Implements laws regarding
planning of distribution lines
Can pass legislation to require
utilities to plan distribution lines in
advance to meet future increases in
distributed generation
End-Uses Sets scope for Focus on
Energy, the state’s energy
efficiency program
Determines whether retail
customers can participate in
MISO’s wholesale markets
through aggregations of
demand-response
Can pass legislation to establish
energy efficiency programs and
update energy codes
Sets rules that determine how much utilities get paid to
implement energy efficiency or demand-response
programs
Distributed
Generation
Sets minimum standards for
utilities’ net-metering
policies and DER
interconnection queue rules
Can pass legislation to enable
community solar and third-party
solar financing
Sets rules that determine the degree to which distributed
generation can participate in wholesale energy markets
40
Further
Reading
Wisconsin’s Roadmap to Net
Zero by 2050, pages 18-20
Detailed Summary Maps - DSIRE The Impacts of Wholesale Market Rules and Policies on
Clean Energy Goals - World Resources Institute
MISO Cities and Communities Coalition
Each entity plays a key role in shaping the grid and can impact other entities’ decisions. The following table illustrates
one example of how each entity can shape the grid and how local governments can influence their decision-making.
FIGURE 4: HOW EACH ENTITY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GAS PLANT (EXAMPLE)
MISO FERC Utility PSC State Legislature
Action MISO proposes a rule
that increases the
expected return on
investment for gas
plants.
FERC reviews MISO’s
proposed rule and
decides to approve,
modify, or reject.
Utility announces a
plan to build a gas
plant due to MISO’s
changing rules,
data center growth,
or other factors
The PSC reviews the
utility’s proposal to
construct a gas
plant and decides
whether to approve,
modify, or reject.
State legislature considers a
bill to require investor-owned
and municipal utilities to file
integrated resource plans,
which would allow local
governments to provide input
to utilities before a generation
resource is announced.
Opportunity
for Local
Governments
to Engage
Submit comments Submit comments Meet with utility Submit public
comments or
intervene in docket
to offer testimony
Lobby or offer legislative
education
Reason to
Engage at
this Stage
Once MISO sets rules, it
is difficult to challenge
utility proposals that
cite them.
Engaging at this stage
allows local
governments to
address potential
threats to local goals
early in the process.
If MISO does not
satisfy the requests
from local
governments, they
can engage FERC as
an alternate strategy.
Through
discussions with
their utility, local
governments can
express their needs
and clarify the
rationale behind
utility proposals
Local governments
can engage the
PSC to advocate
that their clean
energy goals, as
well as the utility’s,
are considered
when reviewing a
gas plant proposal.
Local governments can
provide education to state
legislators on the value of
integrated resource planning,
or if a bill is filed, local
governments can lobby the
state legislature to approve it.
41
Local governments can engage entities in two key ways:
1. Submit public comments to the PSC, MISO, and FERC
2. Lobby the state legislature
3.3 Full Speed Ahead: Submit public comments to regulators
Local governments can submit public comments on proceedings at the PSC, MISO,
and FERC.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE
Step 1: Determine whether individual or collective comments are most strategic.
Local governments may choose to submit comments individually or as part of a
coalition. In certain circumstances, it may be to a local government’s benefit to do
both—contribute to collective comments as well as submit individual comments.
Option 1: Join a coalition
Most local governments do not have dedicated staff to track and study proposals,
attend meetings, and craft public comments. However, local governments can join
coalitions to share resources and work with staff that are dedicated to tracking and
researching grid issues and understanding regulatory processes. Relevant coalitions
include:
1. Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition (WLGCC): This group
participates in stakeholder processes at the PSC.
2. MISO Cities and Communities Coalition (MISOCCC): This group participates in
stakeholder processes at MISO and FERC and is supported by staff at the Great
Plains Institute.
Through joint comments, local governments can illustrate to decision-makers that a
proposal will impact many communities, not just one community or a certain type of
community.
Option 2: Submit comments individually
Any party, including local governments, may submit comments to the PSC, MISO, and
FERC. The comments can take the form of a simple letter expressing local goals,
experiences, and project or program examples. However, submitting more substantial
comments or direct testimony can require a significant investment of labor or hired
professional representation to understand the proceeding and craft comments that
will have influence with decision-makers.
Option 3: Do both
As noted above, coalition comments offer strength in numbers. However, it could
make sense for a local government to contribute both to coalition comments and to
42
submit its own comments, depending on the circumstances and the importance of
the issue to the local government. Offering individual comments allows a local
government to expand on its individual experience—highlighting local examples and
information that may not be as common across a broader coalition. Of course, it is
important that the collective and individual comments are aligned around similar
goals to have the most positive and impactful outcome.
COMMUNITY EXAMPLES
Local Government Collaboration on Data Needs
Local governments require data from their electric utilities to carry out a variety of
energy programs and planning processes, but utilities can be reluctant to share that
data. In 2024, WLGCC requested that the PSC host a roundtable discussion between
local governments and the state’s five investor-owned utilities. The discussion not only
allowed communities to articulate their needs but also allowed utilities to hear from
other utilities who have data-sharing agreements with their member communities.
Following the roundtable, WLGCC successfully collected community data aggregated
at the sector level from all five investor-owned utilities to develop greenhouse gas
inventories for its members. The success of the roundtable provides an example of
how local governments can maximize advocacy efforts through collective action and
engage the PSC to bring multiple stakeholders to the table.
Local Government Collaboration on PSC Utility Cases
In 2023, two investor-owned utilities—Madison Gas Electric and Alliant Energy—
proposed significant changes in rate case filings to their net metering offerings. Both
WLGCC and individual local governments—the County of Dane, the City of Madison,
and the City of Middleton intervened in these cases.
WLGCC intervened given the potential impact of these proposals and the precedent-
setting nature that the Commission’s decisions could have for other utility decisions
across the state. By intervening separately, Dane County, Middleton, and Madison
were also able to speak to their individual experiences and the local impacts of the
proposals.
WLGCC also coordinated with other intervening non-profit organizations that aligned
with members’ priorities. Ultimately, the Commission decided to reject the utilities’
proposals and opened a new investigation to explore net metering on a statewide
basis, as WLGCC recommended.
43
ADDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
Degree of
Difficulty Minimal to Moderate
Staff Time 1-3 hours/month
Cost None
Departments
Involved City/county executive
County Role
Counties can join coalitions and submit comments. Counties can
also play a facilitation role by convening cities and villages to
discuss regulatory engagement.
Partners WLGCC, MISOCCC, local governments served by same utility
Potential Challenges and Solutions
Challenge: By joining a coalition, local governments can save considerable time on
tracking and understanding proposals. However, local governments still require a
basic understanding of the PSC, MISO, and FERC activities to feel comfortable signing
onto comments, and may still face a learning curve to understanding these topics.
Solution: Local governments can stay up to date and deepen their understanding of
grid issues by joining coalitions like WLGCC or MISOCCC. These groups track
regulatory cases and relevant legislation, identify opportunities for members to
collectively provide comments, and coordinate with other groups or non-profits
involved in these topic areas. Power Boost
Local government staff may require approval from city or county
leadership to submit public comments. Given the quick turnaround of
some comment periods, local governments may consider passing a
resolution to provide staff with authority to submit comments without
requiring approvals from city or county leadership.
Example
City of Minneapolis Energy and Climate Action Policy: Comments to State Agencies
3.4 Full Speed Ahead: Engage at the legislature
Local governments may also consider providing education on legislative issues or
working with an in-house liaison, third-party lobbyist, or member-based organization
to lobby the state legislature directly.
44
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE
Step 1: Track issues. Organizations like WLGCC track and provide education on bills
at the state legislature that may impact local clean energy objectives.
Step 2: If interested in lobbying or providing legislative education, consider the
best pathway. Staff working on sustainability initiatives have different pathways for
engaging at the state legislature depending on their community’s size, governance
structure, and available funding.
The following table provides information on the various pathways and the benefits
and challenges associated with each.
FIGURE 5: PATHWAYS FOR ENGAGING WITH THE LEGISLATURE
Benefits Challenges
Utilize in-house liaison: Larger
communities have intergovernmental
affairs staff that advocate for local
interests at the legislature
No cost Governance structure
or lack of support from
leadership may hinder
sustainability staff
participation in
legislative priority
discussions
Hire third-party lobbyist: Local
governments can hire a third-party
firm to lobby on their behalf
Allows lobbyist to work
on a single issue
Requires funding
Work with city or county associations:
The League of Wisconsin
Municipalities and Wisconsin Counties
Association advocate on behalf of
communities at the legislature
Good option for those
that do not have in-
house liaisons or face
challenges engaging
at the legislature
Diverse membership
may limit ability of
group to
advance sustainability
priorities
Utilize intergovernmental partnerships:
Local governments can form
partnerships, like the Milwaukee
County Intergovernmental
Cooperation Council, to hire a lobbyist
or coordinate lobbying efforts
Good option for
smaller communities
that neighbor a large
city
Diverse membership
may limit ability of
group to
advance sustainability
priorities
45
Step 3: Continue to explore impacts of potential legislation. Local governments
may face barriers to engaging at the state legislature due to the challenges outlined
in the preceding table. However, local governments should remain informed on the
impacts of potential legislation and continue to include legislative priorities in climate
action plan updates for the following reasons:
Local governments can speak publicly on policy impacts.
Local staff or officials may be asked by legislators, advocates, or the press for their
opinion on certain energy-related bills or policy concepts. Providing education and
input can help other organizations determine their legislative priorities and help
legislators understand the local effects of energy policies.
Prepare for opportunities.
Staff may face challenges to participating in legislative priority discussions due to a
variety of circumstances. However, circumstances can always change and new
opportunities may arise that will allow staff to join discussions in the future. By
developing a summary of policy impacts and talking points to use in discussions with
leadership or legislators, local governments can save time later on.
COMMUNITY EXAMPLES
The City of Milwaukee’s Environmental Collaboration Office has repeatedly added
items to the city’s legislative priorities. For example, the city supported community
solar-enabling legislation in the 2021-22 legislative session.28
ADDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
Degree of
Difficulty Minimal to Moderate
Staff Time 1-10 hours/year plus time spent on legislative education or
lobbying
Departments
Involved City/county executive, intergovernmental affairs
County Role
Counties can engage at the legislature themselves and can play a
facilitation role by convening cities and villages to discuss
legislative engagement.
28 “2021-22 Legislative Session Summary,” City of Milwaukee, accessed September 16, 2025, 211905 - 2021-
22 Legislative Wrap Up final.