Wisconsin

EV Charging in Wisconsin -

Solar Power in Wisconsin -

Wisconsin’s official stance on commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in 2026 is actively supportive of expanding public access while relying heavily on federal funding, private investment, and state incentives to build out that network. Under the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s (WisDOT) Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (WEVI) Program, the state is distributing federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula funds to eligible applicants—primarily private businesses like gas stations, hotels, and convenience stores—to install fast-charging stations along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors such as I‑90, I‑94, and US‑41. The 2025 EV Infrastructure Plan, approved by the Federal Highway Administration, guides the deployment, with Wisconsin eligible to receive about $78 million in NEVI funding over five federal fiscal years. 

 As of late 2025 and into 2026, Wisconsin has restarted NEVI‑backed charging projects and allocated around $36.4 million for 78 fast‑charging sites, with 11 operational and others in various stages of pre‑construction or construction.  The state’s strategy encourages commercial entities to lead development by requiring at least 20 % non‑federal matching funds and offering up to 80 % coverage of eligible costs for NEVI‑compliant stations under the WEVI grant process.  Additionally, a new state excise tax of 3 ¢ per kWh on electricity sold at EV charging stations was implemented in 2025 to generate revenue for Wisconsin’s transportation fund, which applies to most commercial chargers and ties long‑term charging use to infrastructure maintenance. 

 While Wisconsin’s policy framework promotes build‑out and commercialization of EV charging infrastructure, it also reflects a balance between public support and private participation. State statutes historically restricted local governments from owning publicly accessible charging stations, pushing development toward private ownership and operation, with some utility pilot programs offering business incentives for infrastructure costs.  Moreover, Wisconsin took legal action in 2025 alongside other states to challenge federal efforts to suspend NEVI funding, underscoring its commitment to accessing federal resources for EV infrastructure despite administrative uncertainty.  Together, these elements paint a picture of a state working to accelerate commercial EV charging deployment, encourage private investment, and integrate sustainable transportation while ensuring that infrastructure financing and regulatory conditions remain conducive to growth in 2026.

Wisconsin’s commercial solar policy in 2026 reflects a mixed but evolving stance where utilities, regulators, and lawmakers are all actively shaping how large‑scale solar projects proceed. At the state regulatory level, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) has recently approved significant utility‑scale solar investments. For example, We Energies received unanimous PSC approval for more than 450 MW of new solar, wind, and battery storage projects, including facilities like the Saratoga Solar Energy Center (150 MW) and the Ursa Solar Park (200 MW)** — enough to power over 150,000 homes once operational in the late 2020s. This demonstrates that regulators continue to support commercial solar deployments as part of broader renewable integration strategies, and utilities themselves (e.g., Madison Gas & Electric) are planning solar capacity expansions alongside wind and storage to help meet mid‑century decarbonization goals.

 At the legislative and community levels, however, the stance is more contentious. A bill under consideration in the Wisconsin Legislature seeks to shift approval authority for major solar and wind projects (>15 MW) from state regulators to local governments, effectively giving cities, villages, and towns a veto over siting. This proposal reflects pushback from rural and local officials who argue that large utility‑scale solar arrays (often hundreds of megawatts) should require local consent rather than solely relying on PSC decisions — a response to community resistance in places like Oconto, Adams, and Wood counties where towns have voiced strong opposition to proposed solar farms. If passed, this legislation could materially slow or complicate the deployment of future commercial solar projects by introducing more localized regulatory hurdles.

 Finally, economic incentives and structural drivers are changing in 2026, shaping commercial solar development decisions. Federal incentives such as the long‑standing 30 % investment tax credit (ITC) are being phased down or eliminated for systems not under construction by certain dates, influencing project economics nationally and in Wisconsin. Meanwhile, state‑level programs like Focus on Energy continue to offer rebates for non‑residential systems (e.g., $50/kW up to $25,000), and Wisconsin maintains sales and property tax exemptions for solar equipment. These financial factors — combined with utilities’ concerns about cost shifts in community and distributed solar policies — are driving intense debate over how best to structure commercial solar growth so that it is financially viable, equitable, and aligned with both statewide energy goals and local stakeholder interests.