Green Bay Reporter

The city of Green Bay announced it held the Energize Green Bay clean energy event for nonprofits and tax-exempt organizations on May 5 at NWTC Great Lakes Energy Education Center.

According to Forward Together Wisconsin (FTW), founded by former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, the event aimed to inform tax-exempt organizations about accessing federal tax credits for clean energy projects through direct pay, a provision enabled by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Speakers included Barnes, Brian Adesso of Menasha School District, and Cassie Rowlands of CYR Strategies, who discussed success stories and technical details of implementing solar panels, battery storage, electric vehicles, and EV chargers.

The May 5 event featured a schedule of presentations, including a land acknowledgment by Oneida Tribal Chairman Tehassi Hill, a direct pay success story by Adesso, and a technical overview by Rowlands. Additional speakers included David Nyquist of Focus on Energy and Alex Galt from the City of Green Bay. The day also included Q&A sessions and networking opportunities.

Galt said that "this will be a great opportunity for Green Bay nonprofits, houses of worship, and other organizations to learn about direct pay can be used to make clean energy upgrades more affordable." He explained that "people don’t know that you can get 30% of what you spend on solar panels back in the form of a tax check. It’s like a noncompetitive grant!"

Green Bay is working toward achieving 100% clean energy and carbon neutrality by 2050, as outlined in a resolution approved by the City Council in 2021. This effort includes initiatives like solar installations, energy efficiency upgrades, and a community energy plan developed in partnership with Green Bay Metro Transit and Green Bay Water Utility. In 2023, the city collaborated with nonprofit Slipstream to create a plan setting interim targets for 2030 with recommendations across areas such as clean energy, transportation, and urban tree canopy. The city has also hired a Clean Energy Connector to lead education and outreach efforts.