Renewable Energy for Municipal Operations
When electricity generation comes from fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions that warm the planet in dangerous ways. For example, global warming increases the risk of devastating storms, flooding, drought, and wildfires.
In 2009, the City of Milwaukee passed resolution 091066 to advance Wisconsin’s vision for energy independence by generating 25% of the City’s electricity from renewable resources by 2025. This goal was reaffirmed in the City's 2013 ReFresh Milwaukee Sustainability Plan and is supported by the most recent Climate and Equity Plan's "Greening the Grid" chapter. The City of Milwaukee's Environmental Collaboration Office established multi-prong strategy to achieve this goal. This strategy includes:
- Advocating to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and to our electric utility, We Energies, to add more renewable energy to their electricity generation fleet
- Investing in rooftop solar on City facilities and
- Supporting large-scale solar energy projects in partnership with We Energies that are dedicated to powering City of Milwaukee buildings and operations.
2.25 MW Landfill Solar
The College Avenue Landfill Solar Project (2.25 MW) was completed in 2021 through We Energies Solar Now program. We Energies provides a lease payment to the City of Milwaukee for this project while and retires the Renewable Energy Credits onthe City's behalf, allowing the project to count toward our renwable energy goals.
6 MW Caledonia Solar Project
The City of Milwaukee used We Energies' Renewable Pathway program to facilitate construction of this 6 MW solar project near Caledonia. The City pays for the renewable energy from this project to power 57 muncipal buildings with 100% renewable energy. This project and the landfill solar expansion project were approved in Common Council resolution 231608.
4MW Landfill Solar Expansion
In 2024, the Common Council approved an expansion of the solar field at 1600 E College Avenue as part of Common Council resolution 231608. The project is expected to start construction in December of 2025 and be completed in 2026, constuction to include local Milwaukee resident workers.
Central Library Rooftop Solar
Milwaukee Central Library at 814 W Wisconsin Avenue features two solar arrays. The first was a 30 kw solar array installed with the green roof in 2010. In 2019, the city placed an additional 89.1 kW AC (115.3 kW DC) solar array on the upper roof of Central Library.
Center Street Library
The Milwaukee Public LIbrary Center Street Branch, located at 2727 W Fond du Lac Ave, includes a 41.4 kW AC (54.25 kW DC) roof-top solar array installed in 2019.
Tippecanoe Library Solar
The Milwaukee Public Library Tippecanoe Branch, located at 3912 S Howell Ave, features a 30.6 kW AC (39.8 kW DC) solar array, as well as natural landscaping and bioswales in its parking lot.
MLK Library
The new Milwaukee Public Library Martin Luther King Branch, located at 2901 N. Martin Luther King Dr, is part of a mixed use development. The library features a 50 kW AC solar array (71.94 kW DC) installed in 2025. The property also includes a geothermal heating system.
DPW Field Headquarters
The DPW Field Headquarters, located at 3850 N 35th Street, features two 240 kw (AC) solar arrays. The project is expected to garner federal direct pay tax credits to pay for over 25% of the project costs.
Milwaukee Police Department District 3 Station
[Project under construction]
Through an energy saving performance contract, the CIty is installing a 120 kW (AC) photovoltaic solar array at the Milwaukee Police Department 3rd District Police station, located at 2333 N 49th Street.
Port Milwaukee WInd Turbine
The Port of Milwaukee 100kw Wind Turbine, located at 2323 S. Lincoln Memorial Drive, provides more than 100% of the electricity needs to the Port Administration Building and is a symbol of Milwaukee's clean energy future. For complete project information, visit Milwaukee.gov/WindTurbine.
DPW Central Garage
The Department of Public Works's Central Repair Garage, located at 2142 W Canal Street, includes a 20 kW solar array installed in 2011.
The City of Milwaukee Joins the Better Climate Challenge!
In April 2025, the City of Milwaukee officially joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from City operations 50% from 2019 levels by 2035. City of Milwaukee operations for purposes of the Better Climate Challenge include City of Milwaukee buildings, streetlights, city fleet vehicles and the Hop streetcar. While the City of Milwaukee will pursue and continue to make progress on its Better Building Challenge energy efficiency goal to reduce energy use 20% from city buildings, adding the Better Climate Challenge better aligns with City of Milwaukee and ECO goals to reduce GHG emissions from other sources like streetlights and the fleet, as well as the City’s goal to use 100% renewable energy to provide electricity to all city buildings by 2030. Members of the public can track the City of Milwaukee’s progress towards this goal by exploring a municipal energy use dashboard below, which shows GHG emissions from City of Milwaukee operations in 2019, 2023 and 2024, and will continue to be updated.
In the News
Mayor Signs Agreement Bringing More Renewable Energy to Milwaukee
CBS 58 - March 25, 2024
City, We Energies Solar Partnership Would Create Jobs, Get Milwaukee to 2025 Clean Energy Goal
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - March 6, 2024
City Seeks 20% Cut in Energy Costs for 106 Buildings
Urban Milwaukee - October 17, 2023
How Cities Can Better Confront Climate Change
WBUR - June 19, 2023
Port Milwaukee Wind Turbine Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Urban Milwaukee - February 28, 2022
Sustainability Takes Center Stage in Milwaukee City Operations
American City & County - Nover 24, 2021
Milwaukee Makes History Following the Completion of the City's Largest Solar Energy Farm
TMJ4 - March 16, 2021
Lack of Clarity on State Law Could Hinder Solar Projects, and Limit Competition
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - December 28, 2018
Three Milwaukee Libraries Will Soon Have Solar Panels After Mayor Barrett Signs Measure
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - March 6, 2019