If enough rooftop solar were built in Wausau, Wisconsin, the city could generate more electricity over a year than it used in 2025.
A draft climate plan estimated that suitable roof space across the city would support 446 megawatts of solar capacity and produce about 501,000 megawatt-hours annually — a total that exceeds last year's reported electricity use.
What's happening?
The Climate Action Work Plan is scheduled to go before Wausau's Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Committee on Thursday, according to the Wausau Pilot & Review.
Google Project Sunroof data identified about 19.6 million square feet of roof area in Wausau as suitable for solar.
Set against Wisconsin Public Service's estimate that Wausau used roughly 452,675 megawatt-hours of electricity in 2025, that rooftop solar potential comes to about 111% of annual demand, per the Pilot & Review.
It is a technical and economic estimate of potential rather than a prediction of what will be built, and it does not solve the timing mismatch between when solar power is produced and when buildings need it.
But going solar is one of the best ways households can save money on home energy. Homeowners can explore EnergySage's free tools to get quick solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
Why does it matter?
In 2022, the average Wausau household spent about 3% of its income on electricity and natural gas, matching the statewide figure. For households earning up to 30% of the area median income, the draft put that energy burden at about 15%, the Pilot & Review reported.
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In a city where 42% of households rent, renters often pay monthly utility bills while lacking authority over insulation, windows, or heating equipment, a dynamic that can leave families with higher costs, less comfort, and few opportunities to benefit from efficiency upgrades or cleaner power.
The draft also highlighted transportation and waste pressures. It said drivers in Marathon County traveled 1.9 billion miles by vehicle in 2024 and that Wausau disposed of 23.1 million pounds of trash along with 6.2 million pounds of recycling in 2025, the Pilot & Review noted. The plan connects energy, transportation, and waste policies with household budgets, pollution, and public health.
What's being done?
Committee members were considering approving the plan's existing conditions, demographics, and energy use sections along with sustainability surveys for residents and businesses. Those questionnaires asked about topics including flooding and severe weather, environmental health, waste, food security, sustainable transportation, community solar, energy audits, electrification incentives, electric vehicle charging, and commercial composting. The full plan is expected to be adopted in 2027, the Pilot & Review stated.
Wausau became a SolSmart Silver community in 2025 and has continued to work with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association on the Grow Solar Central Wisconsin group-purchase program.
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