The state of Wisconsin is purchasing more than 92,400 megawatt hours of renewable electrical energy a year from three state utilities under a new state law designed to encourage expansion of renewable energy resources.
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle said the deal represents one of the largest government purchases of renewable energy in the nation. The state did not immediately disclose financial terms for the purchase.
"Government should be a clean energy leader, and the state of Wisconsin is taking major steps to lead the way and improve our energy independence," Doyle said in a press release. "This purchase will help encourage expansion of renewable energy sources in Wisconsin and keep our energy dollars in the local economy."
In 2006, Doyle signed the Energy Efficiency and Renewables Act into law, which requires key state agencies and university campuses to purchase 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by the end of 2011. The 92,400 MWh annual purchase equals 10 percent of the energy consumed by the Department of Health and Family Services, Department of Corrections, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Administration, Department of Public Instruction and the University of Wisconsin System, Doyle said.
The renewable electricity will be purchased from Madison Gas and Electric, We Energies, of Milwaukee, and Wisconsin Public Power Inc., of Sun Prairie.
