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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin regulators defended a decision Wednesday to suspend renewable energy funding from a popular utilities program, despite criticism from businesses that it damages the state’s renewable energy marketplace.
Public Service Commission spokeswoman Kristin Ruesch said a Focus on Energy program geared toward renewable energy was over budget and not cost effective. But she said they’re still analyzing how it may be restored later this year.
The suspended program, introduced in 2002, offers monetary incentives to businesses and residents to install renewable energy systems. In recent years, between 8 to 10 percent of the Focus program’s recent $85-$90 million budget was set aside for it.
But Ruesch said the Focus program has a smaller budget now. The state budget signed by Gov. Scott Walker placed a 1.2 percent cap on how much residents can be charged through utility bills to pay for the Focus program.
That cap halted a possible annual increase to the Focus program’s budget that began in 2010 and could have continued through 2014. The budget is now at about $100 million. Ruesch said the renewable energy incentives
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