All five of Wisconsin’s major electric utilities are on pace to hit their carbon reduction goals by the end of the decade, according to a new draft report from the state’s utility regulator.
Every two years, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin prepares the Strategic Energy Assessment, a report compiling information on electricity demand, the state’s energy mix, affordability and environmental impact. The new draft report is based on data utilities provided to state regulators in fall 2023 as well as historical data.
For Wisconsin Public Service, We Energies, Xcel Energy and Madison Gas and Electric, hitting their goals means reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 80 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. Alliant Energy, meanwhile, has a goal of a 50 percent reduction in emissions by 2030.
All five major utilities hope to achieve a 100 percent reduction in emissions from 2005 levels by 2050.
Coal continues to make up the largest share of Wisconsin’s energy generation, but it’s decreased significantly in recent years, according to the PSC draft report. Coal went from about 54 percent of the state’s energy generation in 2015 to 27 percent in 2022, the draft report said.
Natural gas, wind and solar have all grown in the same time frame. Natural gas went from 19 percent of the state’s energy generation to 26 percent, wind increased from 6 percent to 19 percent and solar increased from less than 0.1 percent to 3 percent.
By the end of the decade, the PSC’s draft report estimates 13 percent of the state’s energy generation will come from coal, 28 percent from natural gas, 24 percent from wind and 14 percent from solar.