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.
RENEW Wisconsin's January 2022 Renewable Energy Summit Programming Videos Are Now Available On-Demand! See them here.
Nov. 30, 2021: Cheq Bay Renewables Community Solar Project receives Wisconsin Rural Partners' 2021 Top Rural Development Initiative. Read more about the award and project here.
Nov. 19, 2021: New Wisconsin SolarShare Cooperative seeks director. A new WI cooperative is being formed to promote, finance and install community solar projects throughout the state. They are seeking a director. Read the job description and about the organization here.
Oct. 26, 2021: Ashland Area Development Corporation begins solar installation. The 120kW dc solar PV installation will be the area's largest rooftop installation and a great example of private sponsorship. Read the story here.
Oct. 19, 2021: Wisconsin Public Radio reports on third-party financing bill for renewable energy. Read the news story here.
Oct. 13, 2021: Third-party financing bill for renewable energy projects is introduced today in the WI legislature. Read RENEW Wisconsin's press release here. Please encourage our local representatives to support this bill. A FAQ sheet can be found here, and the draft bill can be read here.
Sept. 29, 2021: Bayfield County's first EV fast charger gets a ribbon-cutting start. Xcel Energy, BART, Bayfield County and the City of Washburn celebrate to start of a new electric vehicle era. Read The Ashland Daily Press article here.
Sept. 16, 2021: Three area microgrid feasibility studies get funding. Bayfield County, Bad River Tribe, and Madeline Island all receive funds to study advanced microgrids. Studies were funded by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission's Office of Energy Innovation. This memorandum was released today describing all the projects funded.
Sept. 10, 2021: Bayfield County dc fast charger is energized. It is the first dc fast charger in Northern Wisconsin! Check out a photo and our EV page here.
Sept. 7, 2021: Community Solar in Wisconsin is in the news as a new bill is being introduced to the State Legislature. CBR has taken a look into the state's community solar history and what might lie ahead, what is the controversy, and will we see more local community solar options in our area. Read CBR's commentary here.
Sept. 6, 2021: In an unprecedented show of unity, 220 international medical journals and health organizations have jointly published an editorial on the health effects of the climate crisis. Read the editorial here. Acknowledging the health benefits in clean energy is directly related to the Value of Solar as discussed in CBR's net-metering paper.
August 25, 2021: Bayfield Electric Co-op has sent a letter to its members requesting input about its net-metering policy. Read the letter here and CBR's input here. For more information check out the Bayfield Electric Net-metering Page.
Oct. 12, 2021: Illinois passes massive energy and equitable jobs bill. On Sept. 15th, 2021 Illinois Governor Pritzker signed into law one of the most progressive energy bills in the country. Read more here. Short on time? A short summary can be found here.
August 20, 2021: First Electric Vehicle DC fast charger in northern Wisconsin is being installed today. Read more on our Electric Vehicle page.
August 10, 2021: The Cheq Bay Renewables Community Solar Project has been selected to receive the 2021 Top Rural Development Initiative award by Wisconsin Rural Partners, Inc. Read the full press release here. More about the project can be found on our website here.
August 6, 2021: Three area municipalities have applied for the WI Public Service Commission Office of Energy Innovation "Critical Infrastructure Microgrid and Community Resilience Center Pilot Grant Program". Bayfield County, Bad River and La Pointe have all applied for advanced microgrid feasibility studies for their respective infrastructure. More can be read on the PSC website about these studies.
July 27, 2021: State Treasurer, Sarah Godlewski visited the Washburn's solar array at their waste water treatment plant. The visit highlighted that the project was funded by the Board of Commissions of Public Lands of which Sarah is the chair. Read press release here.
July 21, 2021: An encouraging piece of legislation will be introduced in the Wisconsin legislature, sponsored by two republicans, promoting state-wide community solar. Learn more here. CBR has encouraged our local representatives to co-sponsor and support this legislation. You can read a draft of the bill here.
May 12, 2021: New Microgrid Is a Symbol of Resilience for Bad River Band | Department of Energy
April 1, 2021: WI Office of Energy Innovation awards two area renewable energy projects. Bayfield County and Red Cliff are recipients. Read more here.
Cheq Bay Renewables completes research paper on net metering in Wisconsin's electric cooperatives. Read the report here.
August 10, 2021: The Cheq Bay Renewables Community Solar Project has been selected to receive the 2021 Top Rural Development Initiative award by Wisconsin Rural Partners, Inc. Read the full press release here. More about the project can be found on our website here.
August 6, 2021: Three area municipalities have applied for the WI Public Service Commission Office of Energy Innovation "Critical Infrastructure Microgrid and Community Resilience Center Pilot Grant Program". Bayfield County, Bad River and La Pointe have all applied for advanced microgrid feasibility studies for their respective infrastructure. More can be read on the PSC website about these studies.
July 27, 2021: State Treasurer, Sarah Godlewski visited the Washburn's solar array at their waste water treatment plant. The visit highlighted that the project was funded by the Board of Commissions of Public Lands of which Sarah is the chair. Read press release here.
July 21, 2021: An encouraging piece of legislation will be introduced in the Wisconsin legislature, sponsored by two republicans, promoting state-wide community solar. Learn more here. CBR has encouraged our local representatives to co-sponsor and support this legislation. You can read a draft of the bill here.
May 12, 2021: New Microgrid Is a Symbol of Resilience for Bad River Band | Department of Energy
April 1, 2021: WI Office of Energy Innovation awards two area renewable energy projects. Bayfield County and Red Cliff are recipients. Read more here.
Cheq Bay Renewables completes research paper on net metering in Wisconsin's electric cooperatives. Read the report here.
Feb 2021 The Value of Solar:
Michigan Tech professor Joshua Pearce has released a new paper quantifying the value of solar put onto the grid by distributed resources like participants in our solar group buys. Here is an easy to read news article by Michigan Tech News and if you are into the technical paper, you can find it here. Bottom line: solar generators have been under compensated for years!
Michigan Tech professor Joshua Pearce has released a new paper quantifying the value of solar put onto the grid by distributed resources like participants in our solar group buys. Here is an easy to read news article by Michigan Tech News and if you are into the technical paper, you can find it here. Bottom line: solar generators have been under compensated for years!
RENEW WI announces EV for Good grant program. RENEW Wisconsin, a Madison-based renewable energy advocacy organization, has announced the start of a new grant program titled EVs for Good. The program will foster the expansion of electric vehicles (EVs) among mission-based nonprofits throughout Wisconsin. Read the press release here.
City of Washburn's Robust Financing Shines with the Sun
Energy on Wisconsin
November 2019
Bad River Tribe embarks on $2M biggest-in-state solar project
Ashland Daily Press
Sept. 24, 2019
Energy on Wisconsin
November 2019
Bad River Tribe embarks on $2M biggest-in-state solar project
Ashland Daily Press
Sept. 24, 2019
Tour sheds light on power of the sun
Ashland Daily Press
Sept. 19, 2019
Wisconsin Tribes Plan Green Updates With Help of Department of Energy Grants
Wisconsin Public Radio
Aug. 9, 2019
Ashland Daily Press
Sept. 19, 2019
Wisconsin Tribes Plan Green Updates With Help of Department of Energy Grants
Wisconsin Public Radio
Aug. 9, 2019
Governor Evers announces goal of 100% clean energy by 2050
August 2019
Read press release here and executive order here.
August 2019
Read press release here and executive order here.
DOE announces $16M for 14 tribal energy infrastructure deployment projects
July 2019
Read the press release here
July 2019
Read the press release here
Washburn city council approves 100kW solar installation at waste water treatment plant
March 2019
Read more about the Wasburn/Bayfield Solar Project here
March 2019
Read more about the Wasburn/Bayfield Solar Project here
Greater Bayfield Waste Water Treatment Plant and Bayfield County receive Focus on Energy RECEIP grant awards
March 2019
Read more about the Wasburn/Bayfield Solar Project here
March 2019
Read more about the Wasburn/Bayfield Solar Project here
Future looks bright for Cheq Bay Renewables
The Country Today
January 2019
Bill Bailey and his wife, Gayle Chatfield, were researching energy alternatives for their energy-hungry greenhouse business just south of Bayfield along the Chequamegon Bay, an inlet of Lake Superior, when they realized they had tapped into something much bigger than themselves.
Read full article
The Country Today
January 2019
Bill Bailey and his wife, Gayle Chatfield, were researching energy alternatives for their energy-hungry greenhouse business just south of Bayfield along the Chequamegon Bay, an inlet of Lake Superior, when they realized they had tapped into something much bigger than themselves.
Read full article
Cheq Bay Renewables receives RENEW WI's 2018 Renewable Energy Champion award
January 2019
Read RENEW WI press release here and the award here
January 2019
Read RENEW WI press release here and the award here
Commentary: It's Time to Update Wisconsin's Energy Policy
Energy News Network
January 2019
When it comes to Wisconsin energy policy, the lack of voter concern shows. The consequences are becoming apparent.
Read full article
Energy News Network
January 2019
When it comes to Wisconsin energy policy, the lack of voter concern shows. The consequences are becoming apparent.
Read full article
Washburn School Commits to Solar for '19
Ashland Daily Press
Jan. 2, 2019
Ashland Daily Press
Jan. 2, 2019
Washburn School District receives two Solar for Good grants.
December 2018
Solar Grant Program to Generate $4.5 Million in New Solar Energy Projects for Wisconsin Nonprofits
RENEW Wisconsin’s Solar for Good program will issue 36 grants to Wisconsin nonprofit organizations to install new solar-electric systems. Altogether, these grants will total over $445,000 and will lead to more than $4.5 million in new solar investment. The new solar arrays, planned for installation over the next twelve months, will add 2.13 megawatts (MW) of new solar power to Wisconsin’s electric mix. Read full article here.
December 2018
Solar Grant Program to Generate $4.5 Million in New Solar Energy Projects for Wisconsin Nonprofits
RENEW Wisconsin’s Solar for Good program will issue 36 grants to Wisconsin nonprofit organizations to install new solar-electric systems. Altogether, these grants will total over $445,000 and will lead to more than $4.5 million in new solar investment. The new solar arrays, planned for installation over the next twelve months, will add 2.13 megawatts (MW) of new solar power to Wisconsin’s electric mix. Read full article here.
How Rural Northern Wisconsin Logged a Record-setting Solar Group Buy
December, 2018
“It was a unique situation,” an energy company official said — an all-volunteer citizens nonprofit group led the charge.
Growing plants year-round is not easy in often-frigid, wind-swept Chequamegon Bay in northern Wisconsin just off Lake Superior.
But Bill Bailey and his wife Gayle Chatfield have been able to do just that, using almost entirely renewable energy, for the past five years. In 2013 they installed 13.5 kilowatts of solar PV to power their commercial greenhouse operation; a few years earlier they had gotten solar thermal units for the greenhouses. Read full article here.
December, 2018
“It was a unique situation,” an energy company official said — an all-volunteer citizens nonprofit group led the charge.
Growing plants year-round is not easy in often-frigid, wind-swept Chequamegon Bay in northern Wisconsin just off Lake Superior.
But Bill Bailey and his wife Gayle Chatfield have been able to do just that, using almost entirely renewable energy, for the past five years. In 2013 they installed 13.5 kilowatts of solar PV to power their commercial greenhouse operation; a few years earlier they had gotten solar thermal units for the greenhouses. Read full article here.
Public Service Commission Awards $5M In Energy Innovation Grants
Grants Will Fund Projects In Ashland, Drummond and Bayfield County
Friday, October 5, 2018
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin is awarding around $5 million in energy innovation grants. Schools and local governments in northern Wisconsin are among those that received funding to reduce their energy consumption.
Read full article here.
Grants Will Fund Projects In Ashland, Drummond and Bayfield County
Friday, October 5, 2018
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin is awarding around $5 million in energy innovation grants. Schools and local governments in northern Wisconsin are among those that received funding to reduce their energy consumption.
Read full article here.
At the Table: Communities and Utilities Working Together
UW Extension
February 2018
Part 1 click here
Part 2 click here
Part 3 click here
UW Extension
February 2018
Part 1 click here
Part 2 click here
Part 3 click here
Washburn High School students make a request to the WI Public Service Commission for more renewable energy
Superior Days
February 2018
Part 1 click here
Part 2 click here
Superior Days
February 2018
Part 1 click here
Part 2 click here