Green Fitchburg History

Initiatives:

  • 2023: Fitchburg adds its first BCycle stations, joining a bike-share program already established in Madison and Monona, and making e-bikes available through hourly or monthly/annual passes to residents, employees, and tourists who want to get out and enjoy the City's great bikeability!
  • 2022: Fitchburg (tentatively, pending final number confirmation) surpasses its original "25x25" goal from its 2009 Energy Independent Communities pledge, generating 25% of combined electricity and transportation fuels from renewable sources by 2025 - tentative calculations have Fitchburg at 26% through the end of 2022
  • 2021: Fitchburg officially surpasses its "25x25" goal from the 2019 Clean Energy Resolution, sourcing over 32% of the municipality's electricity needs from renewable energy via a combination of on-site rooftop solar, purchases from the O'Brien Solar Farm, and renewable energy that contributes to the remainder of Fitchburg's electricity purchased from the utility's grid
  • 2021/2022: October 6 recognized as Energy Efficiency Day in Fitchburg
  • 2021: O'Brien Solar Fields begin production, generating solar energy for seven commercial customers from 20 megawatts of ground-mounted bifacial panels, with Fitchburg purchasing 1/40th of the project's production (providing an estimated 20% of the City's operational electricity needs)
  • 2021: First Sustainability Bike Tour held, leading participants on a 10-mile bike ride to see numerous sites around Fitchburg related to the City's efforts to create a more sustainable community for residents
  • 2020: East Fire Station solar array completed, adding 101.6 kW of roof-mounted solar PV capacity to the City's renewable portfolio
  • 2019: Silver status as Bicycle-Friendly Community renewed by the League of American Bicyclists, along with a set of guidelines for improvements needed to achieve gold
  • 2019: Awarded SolSmart bronze designation as a solar-friendly community, including special recognition for achieving at least 60% of available points in the Inspection category
  • 2019: Passed Resolution R-26-19, the City of Fitchburg Resolution to Address Climate Change Through Clean Energy. This resolution sets aggressive goals for energy reduction and clean energy usage, at both the municipal and broader community levels.
  • 2018: Along with 6 other Dane County municipalities, awarded WI Office of Energy Innovation grant to write comprehensive energy plans for each community that set priorities for achieving energy goals
  • 2017: Municipal solar initiative to install a 336 kW solar photovoltaic array to generate electricity for city building use
  • 2016: LED Streetlight installation on portions of Fish Hatchery Road and McKee Road
  • 2015: Awarded silver status as a Bicycle-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists
  • 2014: State of Wisconsin 25x25 Energy Independence Updates  
  • 2013: City of Fitchburg Campus Retro-Commissioning Project
  • 2012: Fitchburg participates in Sustain Dane's MPower Champions Program  
  • 2011: Fitchburg Common Council adopts a resolution in support of Idling Reduction strategies for the City of  Fitchburg  
  • 2011: RCC delivers a GHG Emissions and Recommendations Presentation  
  • 2010: Fitchburg joined the Green Tier Legacy Communities Charter  
  • 2009: Partnered with the State of Wisconsin in pursuit of the 25 x 25 goals for energy independence  
  • 2008: Fitchburg Common Council adopts the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement

Fitchburg has taken additional steps towards a greener community and has installed solar panels at City Hall and also at the Public Works Maintenance Facility.  The City of Fitchburg Public Library and the West Fire Station are also partially heated/cooled by a geothermal heating and cooling system.  Staff are encouraged to participate in the City's bike commuter challenge and take other forms of alternative transportation.


For more information regarding sustainability initiatives in the City of Fitchburg, please contact Phil Grupe (phil.grupe@fitchburgwi.gov), Sustainability Specialist at 608-270-4259.