Wisconsin Energy Summary
This page provides a summary of energy in Wisconsin. Here you will find an overview of energy consumption, listing of energy efficiency goals under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), a summary of the status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies, and a list of political leaders and state agency administrators who shape energy policy for Wisconsin. You can link to the following subheadings on this page:
- Executive summary
- Economic and demographic facts that affect energy consumption
- Status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies
- State leadership
Executive Summary
Total Energy Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005 and EPAct Goal for Wisconsin
(million Btu)
Section 123 of EPAct requires states to set an energy conservation goal that is 25% below 1990 consumption. DOE is currently considering a per capita goal among other options.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Information Administration State Energy Price, Expenditure, and Consumption Estimates (SEDS) database. Note, that 2005 is the latest year for which state-by-state data is available.
Wisconsin contains few reserves of fossil fuels.
Read a more complete energy summary for Wisconsin, including consumption and production statistics for fossil fuels on the DOE Energy Information Administration (EIA) Wisconsin Energy Profile.
| Total energy consumption per capita | 336 (million Btu) |
State rank | 28 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPAct per capita goal for 2012 | 226.1 (million Btu) |
State rank | 37 |
| Average annual increase in total energy consumption | 0.3% | State rank | 24 |
Electricity
Fuel Sources for Electric Power Generation
(trillion Btu)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
| Annual growth of electricity consumption | 2.5% | State rank | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity production from nonhydro renewable energy | 1,357 (million kWh) |
State rank | 23 |
Wisconsin has a traditional regulated market for electric power. Electricity consumption is growing at 2.5% per year, which is slightly higher than the national average. The population is growing at slightly more than one-half the national average.
Wisconsin has considerable biomass and some wind energy potential in the northeast part of the state and near Lake Michigan. Wisconsin ranks 18th among states with wind energy potential, and, according to the American Wind Energy Association, had 152 megawatts of wind energy capacity and another 175 megawatts under construction at the beginning of 2008.
Transportation
Motor Gasoline Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005
(gallons)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
Transportation accounts for 23% of all energy consumption in Wisconsin, which makes it the second largest energy-consuming sector of the state economy, after industry. Wisconsin is among the top 10 states with ethanol production capacity at the beginning of 2008 and ranks 10th in ethanol consumption. You can find data about the consumption of alternative fuels in Wisconsin from the DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center.
| Motor gasoline consumption per capita | 465 (gallons) |
State rank | 34 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethanol consumption | 127,203,263 (gallons) |
State rank | 6 |
| Number of alternative fuel stations | 126 | State rank | 34 |
| Population | 5,540,000 | State rank | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent urban population | 67.7% | State rank | 31 |
| Annual population growth rate | 0.6% | State rank | 26 |
| Per capita personal income | $33,278 | State rank | 22 |
| Gross state product | $227,230 (million) |
State rank | 21 |
Economic and Demographic Facts that Affect Energy Consumption
The following statistics for Wisconsin put energy consumption into perspective in the context of the state economy and the size and growth of the population.
Status of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policies
Wisconsin has the following state-level policies and incentives in place that support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The links give detailed explanations of the policies and incentives published online by the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency:
Building energy codes for energy efficiency
Wisconsin has a mandatory building energy code for both residential and commercial buildings based on the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code. Residential buildings can use REScheck to show compliance, and commercial buildings can use COMcheck to show compliance.
Grants for renewable energy
Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy Renewable Energy Grant Program disperses funds through several categories of grants.
Loans for energy efficiency
ENERGY STAR® mortgages are available to those who purchase a qualifying Wisconsin ENERGY STAR home.
Public benefits funds for energy efficiency
Wisconsin's public benefits fund supports energy efficiency projects.
Public benefits funds for renewable energy
Wisconsin's public benefits fund also supports renewable energy projects.
Rebates for energy efficiency
Wisconsin has four energy efficiency rebate programs, administered by Focus on Energy, which provide incentives for efficiency improvements in the residential, commercial, industrial, and public sectors.
Rebates for renewable energy
Wisconsin provides rebates to businesses for installing or expanding renewable energy systems on their facilities.
Renewable portfolio standard for renewable energy
Wisconsin requires all electricity providers to obtain a certain amount of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2015. The exact requirement varies by utility, but the statewide goal is 10% by 2015.
State standards for public buildings for energy efficiency
The Wisconsin Energy Efficiency and Renewables Act aims to increase the use of renewable energy and improve energy efficiency in state buildings.
State Leadership
Governor Jim Doyle (D) began serving as governor in 2003. Previously, he served 12 years as Wisconsin Attorney General.
The Wisconsin Legislature is composed of a senate with 34 members and a state assembly with 99 members. The legislature is usually in regular session starting in January and meets throughout the year. The senate majority leader is Russ Decker (D). The senate minority leader is Scott L. Fitzgerald (R). The speaker for the state assembly is Michael Sheridan (D).
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission oversees public utilities that provide electricity, heat, water, and telecommunication services. The commission chairman is Daniel R. Ebert.
The Office of Energy Independence administers the DOE State Energy Program in Wisconsin and advises the state's executive and elected leaders about energy policy. The office director is Judy Ziewacz. The DOE State Energy Program publishes contact information for the Wisconsin energy office.
