During his 2026 State of the State address, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced a major renewable energy deal. The state will buy 225,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable energy every year for 20 years. That’s enough to power more than half a million Wisconsin homes.
The state will purchase renewable energy certificates, or RECs, through a Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP reference number is AD271160 on the Wisconsin e-Supplier Portal. Only Wisconsin-based renewable energy projects can apply. Deliveries will start in January 2031.
Wisconsin will purchase RECs through RFP #AD271160 on the e-Supplier Portal, open only to Wisconsin-based renewable energy projects.
Each REC equals one MWh of renewable electricity. The purchases will help offset greenhouse gas emissions from state agencies. They’ll also make sure the state has access to clean, in-state electricity.
This isn’t a new idea for Wisconsin. The state’s already bought over 1.8 million RECs from Wisconsin utilities since 2007. Governor Evers created the Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy (OSCE) early in his term through Executive Order #38. He also reportedly joined the U.S. Climate Alliance and became the first Midwest governor on its executive board.
The long-term goal is to reach 100 percent carbon-free electricity in Wisconsin by 2050. The deal also reportedly supports the Paris Agreement’s carbon reduction targets. It’s designed to keep clean energy progress moving forward beyond Evers’ time in office.
The REC purchases come with other priorities too. By some accounts, they’re meant to create clean energy jobs, grow Wisconsin’s economy, and reduce harm to low-income communities. The state wants to keep energy investments local.
Other clean energy efforts are also moving forward in Wisconsin. The Public Service Commission (PSC) recently approved the roughly 225 MW Emerald Bluffs Solar project in Juneau County and the approximately 200 MW Akron Solar project in Adams County. An estimated six more projects could get approved in 2026. In 2023, Wisconsin reportedly set a record with seven approved projects totaling 1.4 gigawatts of clean energy.
The PSC is also working with UW-Madison’s Nuclear Engineering program to study nuclear energy as another carbon-free power source. Wisconsin’s only operating nuclear facility, Point Beach Nuclear Plant, is located in Two Rivers and currently accounts for roughly 16 percent of the state’s energy generation. Officials say nuclear could complement renewable projects like the REC purchases. Evers framed nuclear energy as a game-changer in the state’s broader push toward carbon-free power.
References
- https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/40a4bf0
- https://dailyreporter.com/2026/02/20/tony-evers-final-state-of-the-state-agenda/
- https://www.wispolitics.com/2026/gov-evers-dnr-kick-off-earth-week-by-sharing-ways-wisconsinites-can-be-good-neighbors-and-celebrate-earth-week/
- https://www.cleanwisconsin.org/this-year-in-clean-energy/
