From Vision to Action: Altoona’s Roadmap for Energy & Sustainability
A Clear Vision
Leading By Example
Located in Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley, the City of Altoona may be smaller in size, but its ambition to lead on sustainability is larger than life! Over the last two years, Altoona has emerged as a model showing smaller municipalities how to take meaningful steps in energy efficiency by combining a clear vision, thoughtful planning, and powerful partnerships.
With rising energy costs and growing pressure to meet climate goals, Altoona took a proactive approach. In 2022, the city updated its Comprehensive Plan. Then in 2023, it adopted a detailed Energy Action Plan through Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy program. City leaders moved swiftly from planning to implementation, saving taxpayer dollars, reducing emissions, and showing residents what can be accomplished when a city leads by example.
Putting Plans into Place
In 2022, Altoona updated its Comprehensive Plan to reflect a bold new direction, placing social equity, climate action, and economic vitality at the core of its long-term vision.
“It really began with the planning process,” said Taylor Greenwell, Altoona’s Planning Director. “The Comprehensive Plan gave us a roadmap. It made clear that climate goals, equity, and being fiscally responsible were priorities we needed to act on.”
Altoona joined Partners in Energy, the Xcel Energy program helping communities develop and implement energy strategies. By the end of fall 2023, Altoona had completed the Energy Action Plan. The plan focused on the city's four main sectors: municipal, residential, business, and rental housing. The plan outlined specific strategies for each sector:
LED lighting upgrades.
HVAC retrofits.
Community outreach.
Solar feasibility studies
The team also set measurable goals, such as reducing community-wide electricity use by 3% and increasing residential participation in utility programs. In a town of over 9,000, those targets have real significance and momentum.
Targeting City Operations First
One of the earliest achievements was a solar PV project installed in June 2023, a noticeable step toward renewables and a strong signal of the city’s leadership.
With a plan in place, Altoona began tackling its most energy-intensive facilities. With support from FOCUS ON ENERGY®, the city moved through a series of energy upgrades, starting with a deep dive into operations and facility audits. “Focus on Energy helped us identify where the energy use was heaviest and what upgrades would deliver the biggest return,” said Public Works Director Scott Kwick.
In January 2024, the city improved well pumps 8 and 9 with variable frequency drives and upgraded exterior lighting to LEDs. Additional lighting retrofits were also completed at the Public Works facility in August 2024. Lighting upgrades continued into 2025 at: • Emergency Services Building (January 2025). • Fire and Rescue Building (January and May 2025). • Public Works Facility (May 2025).
These accomplishments are made possible by financial rebates from Focus on Energy and support from Xcel Energy. With municipal upgrades complete, Altoona’s next step is integrating more renewables. The city is exploring rooftop solar projects for several facilities. And thanks to their energy work, they have already earned the SolSmart Bronze designation, a national recognition for communities that make solar energy more accessible.
“We are proud of that,” Greenwell said. “But we want to go further. Our goal is to advance to Silver or Gold status within the next year. We will keep pushing forward using the Energy Action Plan and our Comprehensive Plan as guides.”
Leading by Example
Altoona’s story is noteworthy because of its collaborative nature. Everyone from the city administrator to the deputy clerk took on roles, ensuring a smooth process. While Scott Kwick’s team oversaw implementation, Taylor Greenwell led the broader energy strategy. He coordinated communications, posted updates to social media, managed utility bill inserts, and organized a business energy workshop in partnership with the local Chamber of Commerce.
Big Wins, Small City
For cities considering similar efforts, Altoona’s advice is simple: Start with a walk-through. Contact your Energy Advisor for a building assessment. They will help you identify possible savings, available rebates, and the return on investment. Investing early in an outreach strategy is also key. Community members are often unaware of these programs. Whether it is renters, small business owners, or residents, they need targeted communication. This is one area in which Altoona is investing in for the future.
Altoona’s hard work has not gone unnoticed. In 2025, Focus on Energy honored the city with an Energy Efficiency Excellence Award, a recognition given to a select group of partners each year across Wisconsin. The award celebrates organizations that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to reducing energy waste, investing in long-term solutions, and inspiring others to do the same.
Altoona’s story is proof meaningful sustainability work does not require a massive budget, just clear priorities, strong partnerships, and a commitment to progress. Through its planning, collaboration, and investment in energy upgrades, the city has improved its bottom line and created a more sustainable and resilient future for its residents.
Altoona’s story is proof meaningful sustainability work does not require a massive budget, just clear priorities, strong partnerships, and a commitment to progress. Through its planning, collaboration, and investment in energy upgrades, the city has improved its bottom line and created a more sustainable and resilient future for its residents.
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