In August, Clean Wisconsin hosted a celebration for the two-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) at Madison’s new Black Business Hub. Since it was signed in August of 2022, the IRA has invested about one billion dollars into Wisconsin. IRA money is being used to create clean energy jobs, clean up pollution, protect farms, and help families save on their energy bills.
Over the past year, Clean Wisconsin has been sharing success stories about the impact of federal funding on Wisconsin’s environment and communities. Our anniversary celebration brought together leaders in energy, policy, and business to acknowledge these investments.
The venue itself was testament to the benefits of the IRA. Federal “direct pay” incentives were used to fund the solar array on the green roof of the Black Business Hub. “This is important because we installed a great energy system for a fraction of the price… we save money on utility bills, and we charge our tenants less,” said Dr. Ruben Anthony, President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison.
One of those tenants is Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), a public-private state agency involved in administering economic development programs. “We’re working with funds out of the IRA to finance our state’s first green bank, the Green Innovation Fund,” said Sam Rikkers, the Deputy Secretary of WEDC. “We were successful in securing $62 million from the EPA’s Solar for All program to seed the Green Innovation Fund. And that’s the really cool part—we start by focusing on low-to-moderate income families.”
SunPeak Power, a Madison-based solar company, installed the 45-kilowatt capacity panels on the roof of the Black Business Hub, “Ultimately, these solar panels were made possible by the IRA,” said Hartman Hoel, the Project Development Manager at SunPeak Power. Hoel said the Black Business Hub can expect to save hundreds of thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the system.
Solar panels at the new Black Business Hub are just one example of the many ways the IRA is transforming Wisconsin’s homes, businesses, and communities. Torrance Kramer, the President of Accurate-Airtight Exteriors, applauded new home efficiency rebates funded by the IRA. “We’ve been waiting for this for about 20 years”, Kramer said. He is excited to hire more staff and expand his business as demand grows for efficient buildings.
“We’re particularly proud that Wisconsin is the first in the nation to launch the home energy efficiency rebates,” said Maria Redmond, Director of the Wisconsin Office of Sustainability & Clean Energy. Redmond is leading implementation of Wisconsin’s clean energy plan aimed at achieving 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. She said the IRA has helped bring this goal within reach. “Every single resident should know about the IRA and how it applies to them … you could get money for insulation, or you could get money for a home energy audit.”
Given the wide-reaching objectives of the IRA, it is essential to educate the public on accessing funds. Educating the public and connecting Wisconsin communities with federal investment opportunities is a goal of Forward Together Wisconsin. Former Lieutenant Governer Mandela Barnes, the President of Forward Together Wisconsin, said “I cannot tell you how excited I am that the IRA is our reality right now … Wisconsin is a place that is primed to show that good clean energy policy works for people.”
IRA benefits also extend to Wisconsin farms. Chelsea Chandler is the Climate, Energy & Air Program Director at Clean Wisconsin; but she is also a farmer in the Driftless Region. “While Wisconsin is one of the top ten food-producing states in the country, we are losing our topsoil at alarming rates. Far too many Wisconsinites don’t have clean drinking water because of agricultural runoff. Conservation measures funded by the IRA help us address some of our most critical challenges—food security, climate change, and the health of our communities,” said Chandler.
IRA investments are transforming Wisconsin’s environment and economy. From solar panels and electric buses to home efficiency rebates and conservation measures, the IRA is driving progress across the state. Learn more about what the IRA is doing for Wisconsin at cleanwisconsin.org/Funds4WI.
Clean Wisconsin would like to thank our speakers as well as our members who attended the celebration. Special thanks to the Black Business Hub and Urban League of Greater Madison for their space. Thank you as well to Les Délices de Awa for the delicious West African fare. A full recording of the event can be viewed on the Wiseye website by searching “IRA at the Black Business Hub.”
