One of UW–Madison’s five institutional sustainability goals, first announced by Chancellor Mnookin in February 2024, is to reach net-zero emissions by 2048. Campus leadership set an interim target of 100% renewable electricity by 2030 as an important step on the path to this ambitious goal.
Through a strategy that includes working with electric utilities, supporting development of renewables on university properties, prioritizing acquisition of local renewable energy certificates (RECs), and developing on-campus solar, UW–Madison is advancing its renewable electricity goals in ways that deliver value across the state. New and continuing collaborations are not only producing clean energy, but creating research and education opportunities, supporting local jobs, and strengthening resilience in Wisconsin communities.
UW–Madison is no stranger to renewable energy, serving as home to the College of Engineering’s Solar Energy Laboratory, founded in 1954. Building on this history, the university continues to expand access to renewable energy through innovative projects, campus improvements, and strong collaborations.
Utility partnerships are a key part of UW–Madison’s renewable electricity strategy. The university purchases electricity from three investor-owned utilities and 10 municipal and public power providers. Purchased electricity accounts for nearly 50% of the university’s direct greenhouse gas emissions. Working with Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) within the company’s Net-Zero Carbon Electricity by 2050 framework resulted in a partnership in MGE’s O’Brien Solar Fields, which demonstrates a cost-effective investment in local clean energy while offering faculty, staff, and students opportunities for research and education including educational field trips, studying micro-climate within the array, and pollinator monitoring.
UW–Madison has a long-standing relationship with Alliant Energy and recently advanced the partnership by becoming the final anchor tenant for the Alliant Energy® Community Solar-Janesville. UW–Madison’s investment in 1,900 solar blocks of the 2.25 MW facility represents approximately 10% of the university’s electricity purchased from Alliant Energy and will be repaid through about 10 years of bill credits. Following repayment, the university will continue to receive an additional 10 years of credits assisting in the reduction of campus energy costs.
Earlier this year, operations of a dual-use solar array began, providing unique research and education opportunities. Located at UW–Madison’s Kegonsa Research Campus, the 2.25 MW solar array was designed as a living laboratory to advance knowledge and education about win-win opportunities for pairing renewable energy with agricultural activities and research. The project was recognized as the 2025 Dual-Use Solar Plan of the Year at the North American Agrivoltaics Awards for its excellence in integrated design and planning. Additionally, the renewable energy certificates are retired on behalf of UW–Madison, counting toward the university’s net-zero emissions goal.
Although the geographical and architectural constraints of UW’s urban campus pose a challenge to rooftop solar, new buildings on campus will also be required to comply with new Universities of Wisconsin guidelines, requiring the building to have an on-site solar array that makes maximum use of available roof area or provide at least 5% of building’s annual energy consumption from on-site renewable energy sources. The recently opened Morgridge Hall has a wide range of sustainability features, including 300 rooftop solar panels to support its energy needs. Rooftop solar panels are also included in the designs for the forthcoming Irving & Dorothy Levy Hall, the Phillip A. Levy Engineering Center, and the Frautschi Center in the Lakeshore Nature Preserve.
As UW–Madison moves towards 100% renewable electricity in 2030, campus will continue to work with stakeholders across the state to develop clean energy alternatives that support campus and community through strong partnerships, a continued focus on research and innovation, and leveraging statewide growth in clean energy.
By: Liza Waters
Hero Image: Staff from the National Renewable Energy Lab joined solar researchers from across the state to tour the Kegonsa Research Campus in August, 2025.