Menasha, Wisconsin's new net zero school project powered by the Inflation Reduction Act

In Menasha, Wisconsin, a bold vision for education and sustainability is becoming a reality. The Menasha Joint School District is nearing completion of one of the state’s first net-zero energy middle schools, powered by a 1.14-megawatt solar array, geothermal heating and cooling, and on-site battery storage.

This groundbreaking project was made possible in part by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which created a 30 percent direct pay provision for tax-exempt entities like public school districts. For the first time, schools can access federal clean energy incentives directly, making ambitious, cost-saving infrastructure projects like this both practical and achievable.

Thanks to the IRA, Menasha is putting clean energy to work for its students, reducing long-term energy costs and reinvesting those savings into education. But in today’s political climate, these federal incentives are under threat, putting future clean energy projects, local job creation, and critical savings for schools and communities at risk.