State lawmakers draft bill to allow solar panel leasing

Two lawmakers have drafted legislation that would allow businesses and residents in the state to lease solar panels and prevent utilities from refusing to connect leased systems to the grid, according to a Wisconsin State Journal report. The bill authored by Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay, and Rep. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton, hopes to address ambiguity in the state statutes over who is considered a public utility. The Public Service Commission has repeatedly declined requests to clarify whether a company that leases solar panels is considered a utility. Because state law only allows regulated utilities to sell electricity, utilities have opposed such leasing arrangements. Advocates for renewable energy say the bill would expand access to renewable energy for government and nonprofit organizations that can’t benefit from federal tax credits from solar installations.