Energize Green Bay Announces Clean Energy Event for Nonprofits and Other Tax-Exempt Organizations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Green Bay, WI [April 28, 2025] Tax exempt organizations have not been able to access federal tax credits; no tax burden, no credits. However, provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 make it possible for tax exempt organizations-schools, nonprofits, municipalities, houses of worship, etc.-to access tax credits for the installation of solar photovoltaic panels, battery storage, electric vehicles, electric vehicle chargers, and other qualified clean energy-related projects using 'direct pay,' (also known as elective pay).

Forward Together Wisconsin (FTW), a nonprofit organization formed by Mandela Barnes, former Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, that advocates for clean energy, has organized an event at NWTC's Great Lakes Energy Education Center to share information about direct pay with area tax exempt organizations. Speakers, such as Barnes, Brian Adesso of the Menasha School District, and Cassie Rowlands of CYR Strategies will share success stories and technical information about direct pay.

Information on how to register is available at https://forwardtogetherwi.org/direct-pay-tour-get-resources-for-clean-energy/

Event: FTW Direct Pay Tour, May 5, 10 am at NWTC Great Lakes Energy Education Center

Schedule for the day:

10:00 - 10:05 - Mandela Barnes will welcome

10:05 - 10:12 - Tehassi Hill, Oneida Tribal Chairman, will open with welcome and land acknowledgement

10:12 - 10:20 - Thank You & Welcome, Speaker TBA

10:20 - 10:28 - Christy Jackson Introduces FTW

10:28 - 10:45 - Brian Addesso - Menasha School District Direct Pay Success Story

10:45 - 11:20 - Cassie Rowlands - CYRStrategies - Direct Pay Technical Presentation

11:20 - 11:50 - Cassie Q&A - FTW Lead MC

1 1:50 -12:05 - Lunch

12:05 - 12:35 - David Nyquist - Focus On Energy

12:35 - 12:45 - Q & A

12:45 - 12:55 - Alex Galt - City of Green Bay Clean Energy Connector

1:30 - 1:50 - Bill Cornelius

1:50 - 2:00 - Q & A, FTW Close out

"This will be a great opportunity for Green Bay nonprofits, houses of worship, and other organizations to learn about direct pay can be used to make clean energy upgrades more affordable. People don't know that you can get 30% of what you spend on solar panels back in the form of a tax check. It's like a noncompetitive grant!" says Alex Galt of Energize Green Bay--the City of Green Bay's clean energy outreach campaign.

Members of the media are invited to interview Green Bay Clean Energy Connector, Alex Galt to learn more about direct pay and clean energy tax credits. They are also invited to interview former Lieut. Governor Mandela Barnes of Forward Together Wisconsin.

To schedule an interview with Galt, please contact Michael Bergman, Communications Director for the City of Green Bay at Michael.Bergman@greenbaywi.gov, or via phone at (920) 448-3210 (desk) or (920) 934-0836 (cell).

To schedule an interview with former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, please contact Melissa Baldauff at (772) 579-6936, or via email at melissa@gpsimpact.com.