Complying with Act 141:
Renewable Electricity Consumption
at State Facilities
Prepared by:
Jennifer Blonn, Erik Johnson
Hy Matz and Nicholas Sayen
Presentation Outline
Act 141
Purpose of Project
Alternatives
Assessment Criteria
Analysis
Recommendation
ACT 141
Governor Doyle’s Task Force on Energy
Efficiency and Renewables
Published on March 31, 2006
State facilities must acquire 10 percent
renewable electricity by December 31, 2007
and 20 percent by December 31, 2011
Purpose
To advise the Department of Administration
in complying with the 2007 renewable
electricity targets outlined in Wisconsin Act
141
Renewable Electricity
Generation Background
Energy Independence & Global Warming
26 States have Renewable Fuel Portfolio
Standards (RPS) for Utilities
6 States have Standards for State Facilities (as of
February 2007)

Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Wisconsin
Four Policy Alternatives
Source: Environmental Protection Agency in
collaboration with the Department of Energy,
the World Resources Institute and the Center
for Resource Solutions
Alternative One: Purchase renewable
electricity from local utilities that invest in INSTATE resources to meet Act 141’s 2007 target
Four Policy Alternatives
Alternative Two: Purchase renewable electricity
from local utilities that invest in OUT-OF-STATE
resources to meet Act 141’s 2007 target
Alternative Three: Generate renewable electricity at
state facilities
Alternative Four: Purchase renewable energy credits
(RECs)
Evaluation Criteria
Goal
Promote a Healthy Natural
Environment in Wisconsin
Foster a Strong State Economy
Maximize Feasibility
Maximize Efficiency
Impact Category
Minimize Wisconsin’s Exposure to Harmful
Pollutants
Minimize Wisconsin's Dependence on Out-ofState Energy
Maximize the Number of New State Jobs
Administrative: Minimize DOA Regulatory
Oversight Costs
Political: Maximize Political Support Based
on Successful Adoption in Other States
Promote Long-Term Cost Efficiency of
Renewable Electricity Consumed in
Wisconsin
Minimize Dollar Cost per kWh Paid by DOA
Promote a Healthy Natural
Environment in Wisconsin
Assumptions
Purchasing from Utilities & Self-Generation

Rated ‘Good’
Purchasing RECs

Rated ‘Poor’ because decreased conventional electricity
generation in the region will not result
Foster a Strong State Economy
Alternatives that utilize in-state generation

Rated ‘Excellent’ for reducing Wisconsin’s dependence on out-ofstate energy & fostering job growth in Wisconsin
RECs

Rated ‘Poor’ for reducing Wisconsin’s dependence on out-of-state
energy & fostering job growth in Wisconsin
Purchasing from utilities with electricity generated outof-state

Performs similarly to RECs, but does slightly better in fostering job
growth in Wisconsin
Maximize Feasibility
Purchasing from utilities

Performs ‘Excellent’ with respect to minimizing DOA’s regulatory
oversight costs & maximizing political support based on adoption in
other states
Self-Generation

Performs ‘Poor’ in both feasibility impact categories
RECs


Performs ‘Excellent’ in minimizing DOA’s regulatory oversight costs
Performs ‘Fair’ in maximizing political support because it has a
limited track record of adoption in other states
Maximize Efficiency
Purchasing from utilities with in-state generation

‘Excellent’ in terms of minimizing cost per kWh & promoting the
long-term cost efficiency of renewable electricity in Wisconsin
Purchasing from utilities with out-of-state generation

‘Good’ in terms of minimizing cost per kWh & promoting the
long-term cost efficiency of renewable electricity in Wisconsin
Maximize Efficiency
Self-Generation


Rated ‘Poor’ in terms of minimizing cost per kWh
Rated ‘Fair’ in terms of promoting the long-term cost
efficiency of renewable electricity in Wisconsin
RECs


Rated ‘Good’ in terms of minimizing cost per kWh
Performs ‘Poor’ in terms of promoting the long-term cost
efficiency of renewable electricity in Wisconsin
Recommendation
Purchase renewable electricity from local
utilities that invest in IN-STATE resources
to meet Act 141’s 2007 target
Promote a Healthy Natural Environment in Wisconsin: Good
Foster a Strong State Economy: Excellent
Maximize Feasibility: Excellent
Maximize Efficiency: Excellent
Recommendation
Not mutually exclusive
Second: Local utilities, out-of-state resources
 Third: RECs
 Last: On-site generation

Questions