Accomplishments

Advancing 15,000 MW of wind energy in the Midwest

Since 2001, our most significant accomplishments include:

State Policy

Proactively securing meetings with member companies and Governor’s offices to discuss policies and how they impact business growth and development, jobs, and bring benefits to local communities and the states
Preventing the rollback of favorable renewable energy policies at the state and local levels
Spearheading state legislation encouraging new transmission and fair cost recovery
Driving renewable portfolio standards and goals in seven states
Protecting and improving state tax laws
Defending and improving good state laws for siting wind farms

Transmission

Arranging meetings with C-Suite business leaders and MISO executives
Proactively helping to create market rules and operating practices at MISO to enhance the integration of renewables
Leading solar energy technical issues at MISO including solar generator interconnection, capacity credit and transmission planning.
Advocating for including a higher penetration of renewable energy in transmission planning studies at MISO, such as the annual MISO Transmission Expansion Plan (MTEP).
Advocating for increased flexibility for the integrated grid through resources such as Demand Response and Distributed Energy Resources.
Working to implement changes that foster the delivery of renewables and improves the overall cost-effectiveness of the wholesale energy market.
Successfully advocating for the MISO MVP portfolio of 17 transmission lines and equitable cost allocation
Building in a robust amount of wind power in the $1.7 billion CapX2020 Group I new transmission project in Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Wisconsin
Constructively representing the Environmental Sector on two key MISO committees, its Advisory Committee and its Planning Advisory Committee, in decisions on planning, markets and system operations issues.
Providing a continuous presence to ensure transmission is planned and constructed in a timely fashion to meet state Renewable Energy Standards

Rules & Law

Advancing renewables in key state regulatory dockets
Securing approval of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for the Badger-Coulee transmission line to deliver renewable energy to the state of Wisconsin and the surrounding region.
Prevailing in electric utility Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) cases that result in new megawatts of wind and solar projects.
Prevailing in nearly every FERC case, including the MISO queue reform decision in 2016
Supporting the procurement of increased renewables in several electric utility Integrated Resource Plans, RES implementation dockets, and MISO tariff and compliance filings.
Advocating for renewables in Clean Line Energy Partners transmission proceedings with utility commissions in Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois.
Collaborating with colleague NGOs and other supporters to seek approval, site and route proposed MVP transmission lines in Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Public Education

Engaging in rigorous media advocacy to drive and produce positive stories about renewable energy in the Midwest
Leveraging the business voice in advocating for the Clean Power Plan and other state-level policy initiatives
Promoting renewables to local, state and federal officials through wind and solar farm tours and public engagement
Providing clean energy businesses with media and advocacy training opportunities
Creating fact sheets and other resources for decision-makers and the general public to learn about the benefits of wind and solar energy
Correcting the myths about renewables and transmission