FOE

Climate change is a huge problem that our planet faces.  If it is not addressed properly and solved, future generations will be effected with dire consequences resulting in a diminished quality of life for all living things on this planet.  Whether it is a global, federal, state, or local effort to solve this problem we are definitely on the right track.  The tool I chose for this blog post is called Focus on Energy (FOE).  This is Wisconsin’s statewide energy-efficiency and renewable resource program that “encourages utility customers to reduce fossil fuel consumption by providing incentives for customers to purchase products and services that are energy efficient or use renewable energy sources”. The design of this program is that it is funded by utility customers and administered by private contractors, which is then entirely overseen by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, (PSC).  The PSC’s oversight of FOE “must comply with statutory requirements to report annually to the Legislature and to prepare annual statements of program costs and benefits for utility customers”. They also “evaluate results from other utility-operated energy-efficiency and renewable resource programs in its reports to the Legislature”.  

The FOE covers residential and non-residential entities that benefit through this program by saving money on utility bills, conserving energy and contributing to reducing green house gasses. Residential entities are able to be more energy efficient through multiple ways, from installing energy efficient windows to solar panels.  These are just a few examples, but in the long run the consumer will save a substantial amount of money.  Similar to residential, non-residential entities such as farms are given incentives to build solar panels and wind turbines to become more energy efficient. Farms are just an example from one side of the non-residential spectrum, but this program is also applied to entities such as coal-fired power plants and other industrial/manufacturing entities. This program being applied to a coal-fired power plant could contribute to the reduction of our states GHG emissions and hopefully stray Wisconsin from using such methods for energy. The incentives for both of these include tax breaks and long-term financial savings. This works due to the programs administrator working with private firms whom provide financial incentives for the programs participants. Other bonuses include training and educating customers and providing help and tech support to the companies responsible for developing and selling these products and services.  All in all this program has major benefits to everyone involved and is a necessary tool in combating climate change on a state level.

http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lab/reports/1 http://www.wri.org/sites/default/files/wi_fact_sheet_final.pdf1-13highlights.htm