Now Accepting Applications for the Energy Innovation Grant Program!
- Round 6 of the Energy Innovation Grant Program (EIGP) opened on April 1, 2026, with a total budget of $10 million.
- The deadline to submit an application is Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 1:30 PM Central.
- Eligible Applicants for EIGP Round 6 include:
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Municipalities, Universities, Schools, Hospitals, and Like Entities (MUSH Market): cities, villages, towns, counties, K-12 school districts, tribes, municipal water and wastewater utilities, municipal electric utilities, municipal natural gas utilities, electric cooperatives as defined by Wis. Stat. § 185.995(a), University of Wisconsin System campuses and facilities, Wisconsin Technical College System, public or nonprofit hospitals, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
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Manufacturers as defined by Wis. Stat. § 77.51(7h)
- Eligible Activities for Round 6 include:
- Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Projects
- Renewable Energy Systems (Non-Solar PV)
- Solar PV Systems
- Energy Storage System
- Renewable Energy Systems with Energy Storage
- Level 3 Microgrid Implementation
- Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Projects
- Comprehensive Energy Planning & Feasibility Studies for Microgrid Projects
- To read more about EIGP Round 6 and to apply, visit the links below.
Focus on Energy
Quad V Planning
- The Commission recently approved the scope for the Focus on Energy Quadrennial Planning Process V. See the link below for the list of topic categories and issues to be addressed by the Commission during the planning process.
- A memo to establish the Commission’s Quad V priorities will be released for public comment in the coming weeks on the Commission’s Electronic Records Filing (ERF) System.
- To subscribe to the docket, use the link below to subscribe to PSC docket 5-FE-105 and receive notification when the memo is released and the comment period opens. The memo will include instructions for how to file a comment with the Commission.
Inflation Reduction Act Home Energy Rebates
- Wisconsin’s Home Energy Rebate programs are operational. All $149 million in program funds have been awarded to Wisconsin and incentive/rebate payments are currently being processed as they are received.
- Start today by getting an energy assessment. This will help you understand the amount of energy that can be saved with improvements. For those who qualify, the program covers the cost of the assessment up to $500.
- If you want to learn more about energy assessments, visit the OEI’s webpage on Energy Audits.
- HOMES (Home Efficiency Rebate Program) is designed for all Wisconsin households in single family and multifamily homes. The program gives rebates up to $10,000 for whole-home upgrade projects that reduce energy usage by at least 20%. Common upgrades include attic, wall, and basement insulation, air sealing, and energy efficient HVAC equipment.
- HEAR (Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates) targets households earning up to 150% of area median income (AMI). The program provides rebates for:
- Heat pumps for space heating and cooling (up to $8,000) heat pump clothes dryers (up to $840)
- Electric stoves, cooktops, and ranges (up to $840)
- To learn more about the IRA HER programs, visit the links below.
Funding Opportunities
Solar for Good Grant
- RENEW announced they are merging the Solar for Good and Solar for Schools program as one program, under the Solar for Good name.
- The mission of Solar for Good will remain the same: making it possible for mission-based nonprofits, schools, and houses of worship to do more good by making solar power accessible to these organizations.
- RENEW Wisconsin’s Solar for Good initiative is open for applications. Solar for Good helps mission-based nonprofits, public schools, and houses of worship in Wisconsin with grant funding to make the switch to solar energy. Applicants can choose to apply for grants up to $5,000 per project.
- Eligible applicants must be a registered mission-based nonprofit, public school, or house of worship located in Wisconsin, be in good financial standing, be able to accept donations, and own its building or be able to make necessary changes to its roof or property to accommodate solar. Additionally, organizations receiving a grant must agree to promote their solar project and educate their community members about the benefits of solar energy.
- Applications open on Monday, April 6, 2026, and close on Monday, May 4, 2026.
- Applications must be submitted through the online application form. Emailed or mailed-in application forms will not be reviewed.
- To learn more about the Solar for Good program and to apply, visit the links below.
U.S. Department of Energy’s Unleashing Tribal Energy Development
- The U.S. DOE’s Office of Indian Energy has announced a $50 million notice of funding opportunity aimed at fostering affordable, reliable, and secure energy solutions for Tribal Nations.
- Projects funded by this program are expected to advance Tribal sovereignty through Tribal energy development, efficiency, and use.
- There are three main topic areas:
- Topic area 1 projects are for construction and installation of Tribal community-scale energy projects to meet the needs of the community. Projects are expected to serve the electric loads and support the energy needs of Tribes at the scale of a Tribal community or communities.
- Topic area 2 projects are for predevelopment activities required to identify community-scale energy opportunities and bring projects from concept to implementation ready. Projects are expected to complete all pre-development activities necessary for the deployment of community scale energy projects.
- Topic area 3 projects are for planning, assessment, and feasibility activities to de-risk and advance development for large-scale Tribal energy projects that provide opportunities for revenue generation and economic development. Projects are expected to complete necessary pre-development activities for large scale commercial development of Tribal energy resources which lead to enhancement and strengthening of Tribal energy and economic infrastructure.
- A webinar with additional information on this funding opportunity and how to apply will be held on April 9, 2026.
- Applications for the program are due on July 24, 2026, at 4 PM Central.
- To learn more about the opportunity and to register for the webinar, visit the links below.
U.S. Department of Energy’s Beyond the Meter: Energy Storage Integration Prize
- The Beyond the Meter: Energy Storage Integration Prize is a two-phase competition funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity and will foster the development of next-generation energy- storage-enabled solutions, paving the way for an efficient and affordable energy future.
- The prize offers a total prize pool of $3,400,000 in cash prizes and $800,000 in vouchers to be used at a DOE national laboratory across two phases with two separate tracks.
- This prize will highlight innovative solutions that enhance affordability through integration and interoperability of behind-the-meter (BTM) grid-edge technology and other grid-edge resources. By strategically deploying energy storage on consumers’ premises, the management of BTM assets can be optimized, facilitating the transition to a more reliable and affordable energy future.
- There are two tracks for the prize: one focused on residential solutions and the other focused on commercial and industrial solutions. Submissions for the Residential Solution Track should highlight technologies that are intended for residential use (e.g., single-family homes, multifamily housing, apartments). Submissions for the Commercial/Industrial Solution Track should highlight technologies that are designed for larger-scale applications (e.g., commercial buildings, industrial facilities, warehouses, manufacturing plants, office complexes).
- For both tracks, this competition encourages companies to form coalitions to demonstrate products and strategic plans for integrating and managing BTM grid-edge technologies alongside behind the meter energy storage systems (BTM ESS) while reducing transaction costs. DOE is seeking solutions that are fully-integrated BTM before connecting or interacting with the grid-edge technologies.
- Submissions are due by April 30, 2026, 4 PM Central.
- To learn more about the Energy Storage Integration prize and to read the guidelines, visit the links below.
Learning Opportunities
Office of Indian Energy Program Review Mini-Series: Microgrids and Distribution Infrastructure
- The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy is hosting a webinar Thursday, May 14, 2026, from 2 PM – 3:30 PM Central on Microgrids and Distribution Infrastructure.
- Discover how microgrid projects are revolutionizing energy independence in three Tribal communities by showcasing advanced grid expansion and local power generation solutions that electrify essential buildings and significantly reduce costs. Learn how these initiatives are enhancing resource security and fostering economic growth for remote communities.
- To learn more about the Office of Indian Energy Program webinar series and to register for this webinar, visit the links below.
Energy News and Research
Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts Releases Updated Statewide Assessment Report
- The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI), a nationally recognized collaboration of scientists and stakeholders led by the UW-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), has released an assessment report that outlines the latest climate impacts and solutions for Wisconsin.
- This latest report builds on WICCI’s 2021 Assessment Report, highlighting how the climate has continued to change over the past five years and how new data and insight is leading to adaptation, mitigation, and solutions. This report explains the issues and impacts of our warming climate on Wisconsin residents and provides practical tools to help communities, businesses, and resource managers build resilience.
- The report includes details on the unusually pronounced extreme weather events in recent years, including the more rapid shifts between very wet and very dry weather conditions.
- To read the report or to learn more about WICCI, visit the links below.
Alliant Energy Electric Vehicle Charger Rebates
- Alliant Energy is offering instant rebates on level 2 electric vehicle (EV) chargers.
- A Level 2 charging station offers speed and convenience for EV owners. It uses a 240-volt connection to charge faster than a standard Level 1 charger.
- If you’re an Alliant Energy Wisconsin electric residential customer, you can get $500 off an eligible charger instantly through the Alliant Energy Marketplace.
- Additionally, some of the chargers are eligible for Alliant Energy’s Smart Hours program. Smart Hours rewards Alliant customers for being flexible with their energy use on occasionally extra cold and extra hot days. The program requires an EV charger, device installation, and a Wi-Fi connection.
- To view the EV chargers and learn more about Alliant’s Smart Hours program, visit the links below.
Chippewa Falls High School Green Team Named National Finalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Competition
- The Green Team from Chippewa Falls High School has been named a National Finalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, placing them in the Top 10 schools in the nation.
- Their project, “The Invisible Leak,” addresses a real community challenge by using drone technology to identify hidden energy waste in homes and turn it into actionable information for homeowners.
- In working on the project, the Green Team has built hands-on real-world experience, technical workforce skills, and has collaborated with Xcel Energy, Slipstream, Focus on Energy and the City of Chippewa Falls.
- The team will be competing for one of the top national awards in Washington D.C. from April 13-15th.
- To learn more about the team’s project and the competition, visit the link below and click on the team’s video “Chippewa Falls High School, WI: Thermal Imaging Drones.”
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