Cheq Bay Renewables
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to make renewable energy more accessible in Ashland and Bayfield counties
About us
Key Initiatives

Recent News

November 3, 2024, Bayfield County and Red Cliff receive US Department of Energy official notification of project award and start date.  Bayfield County, including the Red Cliff Band of Chippewa Indians, 17 communities within Bayfield County, and three private businesses will now begin their $12.2M project to install 27 microgrids and Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure throughout Bayfield County.  A project fact sheet can be read here.  More information here.
August 21, 2024, Bad River receives US Department of Energy official notification of project award and start date.  The Bad River Band will now begin their $17.6M "Minigrid" project to install 5MW of solar and 8MWH of battery storage.  A project fact sheet can be read here, and a community benefits summary can be read here.
May 24, 2024, City of Ashland receives Rural Energy Startup Program (RESP) grant from WI Office of Energy Innovation.  The $75K award will provide funding to complete a renewable energy feasibility study for up to 5 key city-owned facilities.  Jolma Electric, of Ashland, will be completing the study.
May 23, 2024, Gov. Evers and the WI DOT announce first round of EV infrastructure funding.  Two sites have been selected locally, Kwik Trip store on Ashland's west end, and Twin Gables Cafe in Brule. The full list on recipients is here. Each site will have a minimum of four DC fast chargers.  
April 22, 2024, Biden-Harris Administration announces $7B for Solar for All Program.  Of the 60 selectees, 2 will have direct impact on Northern Wisconsin.  Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation will receive a grant of $62,450,000, while MTERA (Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association) is set to receive $62,330,000.  The focus of this program is solar PV for low-income residents.  Expect to see a lot more solar going up in Bad River and Ashland County over the next several years!
April 19, 2024, Town of La Pointe receives grant funding for Emergency Services Building Microgrid.  The $142,310 grant from the State of Wisconsin's Energy Innovation Grant Program (EIGP) was funded through the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA).  The microgrid will add solar PV and battery storage to the building and be able to operate with or without the support of the electric grid. Jolma Electric of Ashland will install the system and was selected through competitive bid. 
February 27, 2024, BIG DAY FOR THE CHEQUAMEGON BAY AREA.  Today, the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations announced funding for two area projects.  The press release can be read here.  Bad River will receive funding for a $17,6M microgrid project and Bayfield County and Red Cliff will receive funding for $12.2M of projects.  The Bayfield County/Red Cliff project application was submitted by Wisconsin's Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy with all benefits going to the County and Red Cliff. Here is the Governor's office Press Release. This is a very big story for the area and much more will be shared.  Here is a short summary of what is included in the Bayfield County/Red Cliff project.
January 30, 2024, Ashland County submits $22M EPA Community Change Grant application.  The application includes 22 microgrids, a large solar array at Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center, and EV charging infrastructure throughout the County.  Seven Ashland County Towns participated, two cities, and the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.  For more information read the grant application here.
November 10, 2023, Bayfield County commissions first multi-building microgrid at its Jail and Courthouse.  Read more about the project here or on our Facebook post here.
September 21, 2023, Wisconsin Clean Cities hosts webinar featuring local renewable energy.  The webinar included panelist Lissa Radke - UW Extension, Bill Bailey -CBR, Brent Kucera - City of Ashland, and Tim Bartels - Xcel Energy.   Titled Conservation, Renewables and Resilience a recorded link can be found here.
July 17, 2023, SolarShare Wisconsin Cooperative wins a $100,000 prize  from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas program (ERA).  Read about SolarShares here.
March 1, 2023, Chequamegon Humane Association (CHA) has started another great community-supported solar project.  After receiving a Solar for Good grant which donated 1/2 the solar panels, they are asking the community for support to buy the remaining panels.  Check out their flyer here and a news article about the project here.
Feb 5, 2023, The IRS released this Fact Sheet in December 2022 about energy efficiency home improvements and residential clean energy property tax credits.  CBR will continue to post updated information about the IRA and BIL as it becomes available.
Jan 29, 2023, The National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation has just announced a first-in-the-nation plan to decarbonize all 5 national parks on Lake Superior.  View the press release  here, and the local plan for the Apostle Island's National Lakeshore here.
Oct 19, 2022, Vernon County Energy District presented Rural ReCharge - Engaging with Your Co-op.  Bill Bailey presented the "Bayfield Electric Cooperative DER Story".  In case you missed the event, you can see the slide deck here and the associated text here.
Oct 16, 2022, With the election around the corner we have updated an article we wrote in Sept. 2021 about community solar in Wisconsin.  Relevant to the Oct. 22, 2022, Earth Day:  Election Edition, read about why community solar has not taken off in WI like in MN, and what we should do about it.  Read the updated article here.
Oct 13, 2022, The Bayfield Electric Cooperative passed a new net-metering policy.  After a year of analysis and member input the new policy is a win for all solar and non-solar members alike.  Read more about this exciting change on the Bayfield Electric page.
Sept. 14, 2022, The Biden-Harris Administration announced the first 35 states' National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) plans have been approved, including Wisconsin's.  Read more on our Electric Vehicle page.
Sept. 4, 2022, The Inflation Reduction Act will be the driving force behind reaching our nation's carbon reduction goals.  Here is a good breakdown of what's in it from RENEW Wisconsin's Sam Dunaiski.  And here is the link to our new Inflation Reduction Act page.
Sept. 2, 2022, Essentia Health is our newest corporate sponsor of the Northern Lights Solar Project with a $1000 donation.  Thank you Essentia! Read the latest here or donate at the  GoFundMe site .  Please help is you can!
August 18, 2022, Northern Lights Services' solar project fundraising update:   A big thanks to Memorial Medical Center who has just donated $2500 toward the Northern Lights project.  Read more here, or donate at the  GoFundMe site .  Please help is you can!
August 3, 2022, Northern Lights Services' board approves moving forward with their 120kW solar project.  More information here about the project.  A GoFundMe site has been setup to raise funds for solar panels.  Please help is you can!
June 30, 2022, Northen Lights Services in Washburn, WI released a Request for Proposal for new 120kW ballasted rooftop solar array on their health care facility.  Contact CBR for more information.
June 3, 2022, Ashland Area Development Corporation completes solar project.  The new 120kW DC solar installation goes online as another example of a community-based project in Ashland.  Read the full story here.
May 25, 2022: Ashland County's first electric vehicle dc fast charger goes live.  The 50kW EV charger is located at Clam Lake Junction.  Read CBR's press release here.
May 14, 2022: SolarShares Wisconsin cooperative's website is online and is seeking new members.  Cheq Bay Renewables has partnered with RENEW WI and others to offer a community solar alternative to Wisconsin residents.  Read more on SolarShares website or watch this explanatory 1 minute video here.
May 8, 2022:  Bayfield Electric Cooperative is set to update their solar energy policy.  If you are a BEC member, be sure to attend their annual meeting on Saturday May 14th at the Bad River Casino.  See the flyer here.
April 16, 2022:  CBR presents an update on the Value of Solar and its impact on Bayfield Electric Cooperative's net metering policy to the local chapter of the Citizen's Climate Lobby.  Watch the recording here.
April 15, 2022:  WI Office of Energy Innovation announces grant awards.  Three area organizations receive funding including Bayfield County, BART, and Northland College.  Read more here.  
Visit the News page for archived articles.
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Upcoming Events & Calendar

Listen to WVCB 97.7FM Episode 8 Pulse of the Bay hosted by Fred Clark and featuring Bill Bussey and Bill Bailey talking about current renewable energy initiatives in the Cheq Bay area.  Link here.
Create your own event!  Here is a podcast from NY Times renowned Ezra Klein titled "The Single Best Guide to Decarbonization I've Heard".  Available for Apple or Google, here is the Google link.  Posted on Sept. 20, 2022, it's well worth the hour and 45 minutes and goes through the Inflation Reduction Act.
Create your own event!  Ok, here is another podcast to showcase how our neighbor to the west (Minnesota) is taking the lead on reducing emissions.  Titled De-carbon-ize, it is amazing what the MN nonprofit Fresh Energy is achieving.  Enjoy the podcast here.
Create your own event!  The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) interviewed a regional energy and social justice hero, John Farrell, co-director of the Institute of Local Self-Reliance (ILSR).  The resulting podcast is part of a series called Rise Up Midwest.  This particular episode mixes clean energy initiatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin with politics, social justice, lessons from other states, and cross-industry examples.  Hear John's unique perspective in this fascinating podcast.

Featured Examples

Chequamegon Humane Association (CHA), in Ashland, successfully installs community funded 15kW solar array.   The array went live in August 2023 with celebration and ribbon cutting on August 24th.  Jolma Electric, of Ashland, was the installation contractor.   Read more here.
Ashland Area Development Corporation's new 120kW dc solar installation goes live.  On June 3, 2022, the switch was flipped and AADC is now producing most of its electricity on an annual basis.  The system received donated solar panels from two sponsors, Solar for Good and Nokomis Energy.  This installation is another shining example of a community-based solar project.  Read the full press release here.
The BRICK and New Day Advocacy Center's Solar Installations are complete.  Read the full press release here about the two new community based projects.

​The Town of Bayfield has a new solar PV installation.  Part of Cheq Bay Renewables 2019 Group Buy with installation in the summer of 2020, the array is now up thanks to community volunteers who erected the RTI (Ready-to-Install) system developed by Next Energy Solution.  Final electrical connection was completed by Jolma Electric.  Check out photos on Cheq Bay Renewables' Facebook Page.
On February 29th, 2020 Governor Evers visited Bayfield and thanked Bayfield County for its work in achieving 100% carbon-free electricity.  Here is a short video clip as he references Bayfield County's Proclamation.  The County has also received a Certificate of Commendation from the Governor's office.
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Bayfield County's Board of Supervisors unanimously passed Resolution 2020-11 committing to 100% carbon-free electricity for all county infrastructure on February 25, 2020.  See CBR's presentation to the Board here.
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Cheq Bay Renewables, Madison Solar Consulting, and Robert Drevlow assisted Drummond School District with an energy efficiency and solar PV assessment:
​School Energy and Demand Reduction Opportunity Assessment and
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Site Assessment.   

Read more on the Drummond School District Initiative page.
Roy Settgas of Washburn's Ready-to-Install solar array was part of our 2019 Solar Group Buy and was featured on our 2019 Solar Tour.  Watch Roy install his array here.
Wild Hollow Farm was one of the installations from CBR's 2018 Solar Group Buy.  Read their profile here showing the financial details of this 32 panel 8.64 kW RTI installation