Middleton sustainability committee backs $300,000 in budget requests for city and community renewable road maps

The Middleton Sustainability Committee voted to recommend new budget priorities that would commit $300,000 in capital requests aimed at accelerating the city’s move to renewable electricity.

At the meeting, committee member Kermit moved to add a renewable-energy road map plan to the budget and Laura seconded. After discussion and friendly amendments, the committee approved three line items: $125,000 for a city-government renewable-energy road map, $125,000 toward participation in a new MGE commercial-solar product, and $50,000 to begin a community-wide renewable-energy road map. The motion carried on a voice vote recorded as “Aye.”

Kelly, the city sustainability staff lead, told the committee the road-map work would be similar to consulting the school district used (McKinstry) and would produce a prioritized, multi-year schedule of actions, cost estimates, and phasing to meet Middleton’s renewable-energy goals. “This is budget season now for the 2026 budget. It always starts in July,” Kelly said, explaining timing and the Aug. 15 deadline for operating and capital narratives.

Members debated scope and priorities. Kermit argued the community-wide planning item was essential to mobilize broader participation; John cautioned the committee against overreaching given the short budget window and urged clarity for council. Laura recommended separating the city-government roadmap (focused on municipal operations and enterprise funds) from a larger community study to avoid a single, unwieldy request.

Kelly said the city is close to meeting its municipal electricity target largely because of MGE’s changing fuel mix and existing city assets (roughly 1.7 megawatts incentivized via TIF agreements and a 0.5-megawatt purchase through an earlier RER agreement). She estimated approximately $125,000 as a reasonable planning budget and said staff will meet with MGE on July 31 to discuss commercial-solar purchasing options.

The committee also approved operating-budget initiatives that Kelly identified as necessary to sustain new infrastructure: modest operating and maintenance funding for solar arrays and EV charging equipment and a plan to cover operations for the city’s Scrap Stop composting kiosk after its grant ends in June 2026. Kermit moved to approve the operating items and the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Next steps: staff will finalize precise budget narratives and dollar amounts in time for the Aug. 15 submission; council and finance will consider the committee’s recommendations during the September–October budget deliberations.