About
Energy Independent Communities (EIC) is a voluntary agreement between the State of Wisconsin and communities that have either adopted the common goal to source 25 percent of energy used from renewables by the year 2025 or another thoughtful plan that will lead this community towards achieving energy independence (i.e. 30% renewables by 2030 or 50% by 2050). Currently, there are more than 140 EI Communities in the State of Wisconsin. Most are partners, and have passed the 25x25 resolution. Other communities are working toward passing the 25x25 resolution.
The Office of Energy Innovation aims to provide a funding opportunity every fiscal year that will support local government’s planning and implementation efforts to support these goals. Communities must have a plan prior to implementing a solution and energy efficiency projects are to precede renewable implementation.
Additional Resources
Energy On Wisconsin is a collaboration of the Office of Energy Innovation and UW-Extension to host quarterly gatherings of Energy Independent Communities and other municipalities and school districts interested in sustainable energy programming. Visit EIC's new web portal to learn more about
Energy On Wisconsin.
Planning Reports
During 2009 and 2010 there were 21 awardees representing almost 50 counties, cities, village, towns and first nation tribes that participated in the Energy Independence Planning process. This group collected energy data from buildings, infrastructure and fleet vehicles to create a baseline to make future energy decisions. Next, each one of the Energy Independence Teams worked with their county board, city council, village board, town chairs, and tribal leaders to select the initiatives, policies and projects that would give their community the best Return On Investment (ROI). Once each community selected their initiatives, policies and projects, a pathway was created to implementation. These items will be worked on in each community for the next fourteen years, until 2025.
Thank you to all of the community leaders and staff that worked very hard to complete this important project.
Program Partners
More than 140 communities have partnered with EIC
Contact
Megan Levy
(608) 266-5054