Clean Energy Funding Series --- through May 23, 2023 --- ONLINE

Current & Future Federal & State Opportunities Overview -- Substantial federal funding to spur America’s transition to a clean energy economy will be available over the next few years as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The funding for energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean energy jobs and technologies, clean transportation, and energy equity will be more accessible to a wider range of sectors than ever before. This webinar series on clean energy funding is designed to ready each sector in Wisconsin to take advantage of the opportunities that are or will be available so that you can prepare effectively to bring that money to your projects. You will learn about:

Bringing in funding will accelerate the return on investment of your clean energy project and help you earn savings sooner, while speeding up your progress toward resilience, energy independence, and carbon neutrality. Our presenters will help you navigate the landscape of grants and finance opportunities to move forward on obtaining funding for your project.

Webinars in the Clean Energy Funding Series

How people and goods move across the US will be transformed by the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Unprecedented funding of close to $700 Billion over 5 to 10 years will be invested strategically in infrastructure, programs, and research that bring clean transportation technologies to market maturity, drive demand, and impact every step of the transportation value chain. $119 billion is allocated to electric vehicles. And there’s approximately $40 billion for advanced manufacturing, manufacturing conversion, batteries, and EV charging equipment. The bills provide significant increased spending on multimodal transportation as well, engaging state and local government partners in outcomes related to community resilience and environmental justice.

In this webinar, you will learn the types of clean transportation funding available to businesses, governments, schools, rural areas and tribes, organizations, and individuals and what you need to do in advance to be ready to apply. You will learn about business funding for EV charging, Drive Clean rural assessments, as well as strategies to apply for electric school buses and electric city buses in Wisconsin. Clean transportation funding can be in your future, we’ll introduce you to resources to assist you.

Our Presenters

Lorrie Lisek, Executive Director, Wisconsin Clean Cities

Lorrie Lisek is the president and co-owner of Legacy Environmental Services, Inc., a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) founded in 2003. Lisek has served as Executive Director of Wisconsin Clean Cities since 2011. The coalition is one of nearly 75 under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program, which aims to reduce petroleum use by promoting clean, domestic, sustainable fuels, technologies and vehicles. Under Lisek’s leadership, Wisconsin Clean Cities was named a U.S. EPA SmartWay Affiliate Challenge Honoree for the coalition’s role in reducing freight emissions. Lisek has also been instrumental in securing more than $40 million in state and federal funding for the coalition and member advanced mobility transportation projects. In 2015, Lorrie was inducted into the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Hall of Fame. Lisek was recently honored by the Clean Fuels Alliance with the Impact Award recognizing the efforts of the National Clean Cities Program and Directors.

Kaleb Vander Wiele, Transportation Electrification Project Manager, Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT)

Kaleb Vander Wiele is from WisDOT’s Division of Budget and Strategic Initiatives and is WisDOT’s Transportation Electrification Project Manager. Kaleb has served in a variety of roles at WisDOT that have allowed him to focus on regulatory issues and policy development. In his current role in the Division of Budget and Strategic Initiatives he has been tasked with leading WisDOT’s effort in preparing for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program.

Francisco Sayu, Emerging Technology Director, RENEW Wisconsin

Francisco supports the Beneficial Electrification of buildings and transportation at RENEW. He earned a Master of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has a decade of engineering experience in energy efficiency and renewable energy. He serves in the Wisconsin Advisory Council on Building Sustainability and on several nonprofit boards. Before Joining RENEW, Francisco served as the Program Manager for the Focus on Energy® New Construction Solution. Francisco lives in Madison with his wife Rebecca and their children.

Trevor Jung, Transit Manager, City of Racine

Trevor Jung serves as Transit and Mobility Director for RYDE Racine, the City of Racine’s public transportation system. While in this role, Racine has electrified or secured funding for the electrification of almost 40% of its transit fleet, launched a new vehicle locator application for the public, fostered greater institutional partnerships resulting in increased ridership, expanded micro-transit options, and reformed the management and employment structure of the transit department. Trevor provides policy guidance on multimodal transportation, coordinates public transit planning, and carries out strategic initiatives related to the modernization and sustainability of Racine’s public transportation system. Before assuming his current position, Trevor earned his Urban Studies degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and served two terms on the City of Racine Common Council, being the youngest elected to that role since 1862.

Our Moderator

Sherrie Gruder, LEED AP, UW-Madison Extension, Sustainable Design & Energy Specialist

Sherrie provides statewide education and technical assistance on sustainable community development, sustainable energy strategies, and green building to support the resilience and economic vitality of Wisconsin communities, local governments, tribes, and businesses. She delivers the Energy On Wisconsin newsletter, web site and education programs. She authored the Solar Energy Financing Guide: Empowering Wisconsin Local Governments and assists them with energy and resilience planning and how to profitably and effectively meet their energy independent community goals.