Gov. Evers Kicks Off National Clean Energy Week with Wausau Brewery Visit

It’s “National Clean Energy Week” in Wisconsin, the seventh since Governor Evers penned a proclamation outlining a clean energy goal for the state by 2050. It aims to make statewide energy consumption 100% carbon-free.

In Wausau on Monday, Gov. Evers kicked off National Clean Energy Week by touring the Red Eye Brewing Company, a downtown Wausau restaurant he says he’s visited before.

“Actually, when I walked in the door, I knew exactly where I sat with Kathy and I probably 10 years ago at least,” Evers said. “So it’s good to be back.”

 The restaurant features a wood-burning oven and is the first brewery in the state to use a solar thermal hot water system.

Owners Brett Danke and Kevin Eichelberger showed Evers how solar panels heat the water used to make their small batch beer. The governor said his visit was to thank the owners for being sustainably-conscious. 

“They’re doing everything they can to keep costs down and also be good to the environment,” he said, adding that he’s pleased to see their success.

“The interesting thing for me is that they’ve been doing it for a long time. From the day they opened the door here, they’ve been doing things around, you know, making sure that their energy is cheaper and more appropriately solar,” Evers said.

The visit comes as two Republican state legislators announced a proposal this week that would allow community solar programs in Wisconsin. 

State senator Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) and Representative Scott Krug (R-Rome) introduced the bill to tackle rising utility bills.

Under the legislation, electric customers could subscribe to a community solar facility and receive credits on their electricity bill for using renewable energy.

Evers says increasing access to solar power options could be beneficial for Wisconsin, but he doesn’t know if he’ll sign the bill until it reaches his desk. 

“Anything we could do to increase the use of solar, I think that’s important,” he said.

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