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OEI Newsletter August 2026

Inflation Reduction Act Home Energy Rebates

• Wisconsin's Home Energy Rebate (HER) Program is celebrating its second anniversary of program launch. As of August, the program has paid over $17M in rebates for qualified projects.
  • The HOMES program has paid $6.9M in rebates for projects that are projected to achieve modeled savings targets, those projects have included insulation, air sealing, and high efficiency heating and cooling systems.
  • The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate Program (HEAR) has paid $10.2M in rebates for projects installing heat pumps, insulation and air sealing, and upgraded electrical panels and wiring.
  • Visit the link below to view success stories of completed projects
• Qualified single family and multifamily projects are eligible for HOMES and HEAR rebates by working with IRA Registered Contractors. HEAR rebates for certain products are also available through purchases at participating retail stores.
• To learn more, to see what may be available for your home, and to find an IRA Registered Contractor or retail store, visit the links below.

Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy Webinar Series

• The Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy (OSCE) is putting on a two-month webinar series introducing the Wisconsin Emissions Reduction Roadmap and its contents. The Roadmap is Wisconsin’s first ever comprehensive climate action plan.
• The OSCE will be doing a deep dive into each sector reviewed in the road map, what emissions reductions actions were identified in the plan, and how those actions were developed.
• The plan offers a "roadmap" for the state to develop policies, practices, and technologies that reduce pollutant emissions, create high-quality jobs, drive economic growth, protect and preserve natural resources, improve air quality, and promote the health and well-being of Wisconsin residents.
• Join the OSCE in September for the following webinars:
  • Monday, September 14, 2026, at 6:30 PM for a deep dive into the Agriculture sector and its related emissions reduction actions
  • Monday, September 21, 2026, at 6:30 PM for a deep dive into the Commercial & Residential Buildings sector and its related emissions reduction actions
  • Monday, September 28, 2026, at 6:30 PM for a deep dive into the Energy Generation sector and its related emissions reduction actions
• To learn more about the webinar series and to register for the webinars, visit the link below.

Focus on Energy - Training Opportunities

• Join Focus on Energy for their September 2026 training sessions and webinars. Registration is required for all webinars and trainings.
• September 8 from 9 AM – 10 AM CT, Gas vs Electric. The webinar will help attendees understand cost/performance comparisons between gas and electric equipment upgrades, will provide examples of process heating equipment, booster heaters, food service equipment, boilers, furnaces, heat pumps, chillers, and more.
• September 15 and 16 from 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM CT, Industrial Ventilation and Process Heat Recovery. If your manufacturing facility runs exhaust fans to manage fumes, dust, particulate matter, or heat, this webinar will help you learn more about maintaining proper ventilation.
• September 24 from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM CT, Power Quality Considerations for EE Retrofits & Renewable Energy Systems.  This training seminar addresses the power quality aspects of both energy efficiency retrofits and the use of renewable energy sources. It provides an overview of the effects on electrical power quality associated with some energy efficiency improvements and the use of renewable energy power sources. This course provides useful information that can help these projects to be implemented without adverse side effects. This course offers 4 DSPS continuing education credits.
• September 29 from 9 AM – 10 AM CT, Commissioning Best Practices. From commissioning agent qualifications to case studies, the webinar will explore the benefits and outline best practices for the four stages of commissioning (Pre-Design, Design, Construction, and Occupancy). The webinar will also discuss best practices for lighting and HVAC commissioning.
• To learn more about the webinars and training opportunities, visit the links below.

PSC Currently Accepting Public Comments on Draft Strategic Energy Assessment

• The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is currently accepting public comments on the draft Strategic Energy Assessment (SEA). The SEA is a report published every two years that provides data and technical analysis to evaluate Wisconsin’s current and future electricity supply.
• The draft SEA and information on public comments can be found in Docket 5-ES-113 on the PSC’s Electronic Records Filing System.
• The PSC held a public hearing on August 20, 2026, to take public comments, and the PSC is also accepting public comments on the draft SEA in writing online or via US mail by Monday, September 28, 2026, at 10 AM CT.  Public comments received by the deadline become part of the official record considered by the Commission when making its decisions.
• To learn more about the SEA or to file a comment to Docket 5-ES-113, visit the links below.

Funding Opportunities

Federal Transit Administration Notice of Funding Opportunity: Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Programs

• The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the opportunity to apply for approximately $21 million in competitive grants for the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program and approximately $589 million in competitive grants for the FY 2026 Low or No Emission Grant Program.
• The Bus Program funds will be awarded competitively to purchase, rehabilitate, or lease buses and related equipment, and to construct, purchase, rehabilitate, or lease bus-related facilities. Eligible recipients for the Bus Program are states, local government entities, and federally recognized Indian Tribes.
• The Low-No Program funds will be awarded competitively for the purchase or lease of buses that use low- or no-emission propulsion technologies, including related equipment or facilities. Eligible recipients include states, local government entities, and federally recognized Indian Tribes.
• Eligible projects for the Low-No Program include:
  • Purchasing or leasing low-emission buses (See 49 U.S.C. 5339(c)(1)(E)), which include, but are not limited to:
    • Propane buses
    • CNG buses
    • Hybrid-electric buses
  • Purchasing or leasing zero-emission buses, which include, but are not limited to:
    • Hydrogen fuel-cell buses
    • Battery-electric buses
    • Rubber tire trolley buses powered by overhead catenaries
      • Acquiring low- or zero-emission buses with a leased power source
      • Leasing, constructing, or rehabilitating public transportation facilities and related equipment to accommodate low- or zero-emission buses
• Complete proposals must be submitted electronically through the Grants.gov website by 10:59 PM CT on September 21, 2026.
• To learn more about both programs, visit the link below.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Powering Affordable Reliable Technology Program

• The Powering Affordable Reliable Technology (PART) Program supports affordable energy growth across America by providing loans for projects that generate or store electricity from a renewable energy resource (RER). Part of the loan may also qualify for loan forgiveness.
• Electricity produced or stored by the project may serve both rural and nonrural residents. However, at least 50 percent of the service area must be rural.
• Eligible applicants include:
  • Certified electric utilities
  • Distribution, generation and transmission electric cooperatives
  • Federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations
  • For-profit organizations
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • State or local governments
• Funding can be used to:
  • Build new renewable energy systems or energy storage systems that will sell power through a secure agreement and do not violate existing wholesale power contracts
  • Build new power lines, microgrids, transformers, and other equipment
  • Upgrade existing power lines, equipment, transformers, and distribution and transmission facilities
  • Cover interconnection expenses and other costs to deliver electricity, including microgrid-related costs
  • Recover pre-application expenses
• This funding round will only provide awards for the construction of hydro, geothermal, or biomass energy generation, and/or storage systems charged with any energy source eligible under section 317 of the Rural Electrification Act.
• Individual awards will range between $1 million and $100 million and will support affordable power for American families, and infrastructure. Eligible projects receiving funding may be granted loan forgiveness up to 40 percent.
• A Letter of Interest is required. Letters of Interest (LOI) must be submitted between 10:59 PM CT on September 8, 2026, and 10:59 pm CT on October 9, 2026. Letters of Interest will not be accepted after 10:59 pm CT on October 9, 2026.
• The USDA is hosting a webinar at 1 PM CT on September 2, 2026, for those interested in learning more about the program.
• To learn more about the PART program and to register for the webinar, visit the links below.

U.S. Department of Energy Opens Sixth Annual Technical Assistance Application for Coastal, Remote, and Island Communities

• The U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) opened the sixth round of the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP) to help U.S. coastal, remote, and island communities become more energy resilient.
• ETIPP helps communities to assess and advance the solutions that best meet their needs.
• Eligible Organization types include:
  • The applicant community is located on an island.
  • The applicant community is located in Alaska.
  • The applicant community is within 50 miles of a coastline (ocean or seacoast, or along the Great Lakes).
  • The applicant community has a population of fewer than 50,000.
  • The applicant community is a federally recognized Tribe.
• The program offers two types of technical assistance:
  • Strategic Energy Planning is a 4- to 8-month effort that supports communities in developing actionable goals for their energy resilience planning. Up to $20,000 is available for funding.
  • The Deep Dive technical assistance track is for communities with an existing and current energy plan (developed within the last 5 years) or specific project that fits within the scope and purview of ETIPP. The Deep Dive track can be between 12 to 24 months and will result in a thorough analysis led by national lab technical subject matter experts. Up to $50,000 is available for funding.
• There is an informational webinar on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 2 PM CT.
• Applications are due Wednesday, November 18, 2026.
• For more information about the ETIPP, visit the links below.

Technical Assistance Available for Tribal Nation Energy Projects

• Technical assistance for Tribal energy projects is provided at no-cost by experts from the U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) Office of Indian Energy, U.S. DOE’s national laboratories, and other partnering organizations.
• The goal of Tribal energy technical assistance is to address a specific challenge or fulfill a need that is essential to successful project implementation. This includes modernizing or developing legal, regulatory, and contractual frameworks for Tribal energy; enabling a sustainable competitive business environment; and effectively participating in power markets.
• The intended result of this Tribal energy technical assistance is:
  • To provide a tangible product or specific deliverable designed to help move a project forward
  • To support Tribes’ self-determination and energy sovereignty through assistance to identify and support bankable structures for energy projects through legal technical assistance
  • To assist Tribes in strengthening their “in-house” capacity to independently lead, advise, and implement such structures in the future
• To learn more about this technical assistance opportunity, visit the link below.

Energy News

U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy Release Strategic Plan

• The U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs released its Strategic Plan on August 5, 2026.
• The Strategic Plan IE’s Strategic Plan responds to four urgent challenges facing Indian Country:
  • Systemic energy insecurity on Tribal lands
  • Inadequate staffing and technical capacity for energy initiatives
  • Unrealized potential of Tribal energy resource wealth
  • Administrative and regulatory barriers to energy project development
• The Plan has four goals:
  • Improve electricity access, costs, and service for Tribal communities—aiming to eliminate the electricity access gap and reduce energy burdens
  • Grow the Tribal workforce to lead energy initiatives—supporting skills, training, and career opportunities for Tribal members
  • Unlock the energy wealth of Tribal nations—making U.S. DOE’s technical resources available, delivering critical grant funding, and fostering new partnerships
  • Cut red tape for Tribes developing energy projects—streamlining federal processes and empowering Tribal self-determination
• The Plan aims to deliver, by 2030, more than $2 billion in cumulative energy cost savings, install 100 megawatts of new generation capacity, and support 450 Tribe-led energy and infrastructure projects.
• To learn more about the Strategic Plan, visit the links below.

Learning Opportunities

Understanding Your Energy Use: Tools for You to Take Action & Save Money Webinar

• The Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin (CUB) is hosting a free educational webinar on Thursday, September 3, 2026, from 12 PM - 1 PM CT designed to help Wisconsin residential utility customers save money.  
• The webinar will provide a practical roadmap for taking control of utility bills, offering an overview of how Wisconsin utilities function, and how residents can advocate for their interests as consumers.   
• The webinar will explore: 
  • Home Energy Efficiency: Simple, effective steps—from low-cost weatherization tips to understanding your appliance usage—to reduce energy waste and lower your monthly bills.  
  • Resilience Planning: Practical measures to help ensure your home remains comfortable, safe, and efficient, regardless of external grid or weather conditions. 
  • Empowered Living: Resources and programs available to help you navigate your energy options and plan for a more stable, affordable future. 

• To learn more about the webinar and to register, visit the link below.