Dane County Recognizes 23 New Climate Champions

September 03, 2025
Exec Media, 608-800-1127
County Executive, County Executive

Today, County Executive Melissa Agard and the Office of Energy and Climate Change (OECC) recognized 23 local entities for leading on climate action through the Dane County Climate Champions program. OECC developed the Climate Champions program to recognize the leadership of local entities that are taking significant action to reduce carbon emissions.

“We will achieve the ambitious goals set in the Dane County Climate Action Plan only with the participation of local stakeholders–residents, businesses, faith organizations, nonprofits, schools, and local governments.  That’s why we are so excited to recognize this impressive class of new Climate Champions, representing so many different sectors,” said County Executive Agard. “The Dane County Climate Action Plan set a path to cut countywide emissions in half by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.”

The Office of Energy & Climate Change Climate Champions program recognizes achievements across ten categories, including:

  • Building Energy Use - for entities with very energy-efficient buildings
  • Building Design - recognizing facilities still being planned or built that are projected to be very energy efficient
  • Fleet Operations - for entities with a fleet powered by clean fuels
  • Employee Commuting - for entities that encourage their workforce to commute via bike, foot, transit, or telecommuting
  • Water Saving Practices - for entities that have implemented practices to reduce water consumption
  • Waste Diversion Practices - for entities that have strong waste diversion practices
  • Sustainable Land Use Practices - for entities that have strong land use practices
  • Catalysts - for entities that help others take climate actions
  • GHG Emissions - for entities that have measured and reduced their emissions footprint

This year, OECC is presenting 23 Climate Champions awards to 21 individual entities.

“I’m proud to showcase the organizations being recognized for climate action. The variety of actions and dedication of local entities to reducing their emissions truly embodies Dane County’s commitment to leading by example” says Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change Director Kathy Kuntz.

The full list of 2025 Climate Champions and their achievements are on the following pages (listed alphabetically):

Accurate Airtight Exteriors – AA-Exteriors achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Catalyst) status for their energy utilization evaluations to promote a better understanding of one's building energy consumption. The contractor works directly with building owners to develop energy minded plans and specifications to minimize climate impacting energy consumption.

Alliant Energy – Alliant Energy achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Other) status for their efforts building a strong, resilient energy future for Wisconsin by delivering reliable, cost-effective and responsible energy solutions. As Wisconsin’s largest utility-scale solar owner and operator, they are expanding wind, solar and battery storage to enhance sustainability while ensuring reliable energy production.

City of Edgerton – The City of Edgerton achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Other) status for significantly accelerating its efforts by investing more in renewables and electrification than ever before. 85.5 tons of CO2 have been avoided annually from the solar installations.

City of Madison – Achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Catalyst and Fleet/two stars) status. The City of Madison's Building Energy Savings Program is catalyzing energy, cost, and GHG savings in commercial buildings across Madison, now for the second year. This year, the program expanded to include buildings 50,000 square feet and larger, bringing the total to nearly 400 buildings receiving energy efficiency assistance. The City of Madison has continued to expand the size of their electric fleet and now 77% of their diesel vehicles run on renewable diesel.

 

City of Sun Prairie – Sun Prairie achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Other) status for having installed three solar photovoltaic (PV) systems since 2018, achieving 100% renewable electricity for municipal operations. By 2026, an additional 571 kW will bring the city’s total solar capacity to over 1.1 megawatts (MW). There is an annual emission reduction of 5,358 metric tons of CO2 equivalents.

 

Dane County Regional Airport – The Dane County Regional Airport achieved 2025 Climate Champion status (2 Stars/Building Energy Use) for the results of a terminal expansion that substantially reduced overall energy usage. The airport expanded its terminal by 24% yet cut total energy use in the facility.

 

Everlight Solar – Everlight Solar achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Fleet/1 star) status for electrifying vehicles in their fleet. They are reducing emissions, decreasing their dependence on fossil fuels, and setting a precedent on responsibility by practicing their environmental values. Everlight Solar installed Level 2 charging stations at all warehouses to keep teams charged up efficiently.

 

Free Bikes for Kids Wisconsin – Bikes for Kids Wisconsin achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Catalyst) status for their work in active transit. They are reducing emissions, cutting waste, and inspiring more people to choose climate-friendly transportation by keeping over 40 tons of bike materials out of landfills through recycling and reuse, and putting over 14,000 bikes into the hands of those who need them.

 

Greenline Lawncare – Greenline Lawncare achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Other) status for switching from gas-powered vehicles and lawn equipment over to a now fully electric lawn care company. The electric equipment produces no emissions during use and the batteries charge from their electric truck while on the job.

Harmony Bar & Grill – Harmony Bar achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Energy/3 stars) status for installing a heat recovery system and a new, efficient compressor. All refrigeration appliances and fans are new EnergyStar. The kitchen replaced gas fired soup turbines with two electric induction re-thermalizers, in addition to properly insulating coolers and other efficiency measures.

 

Machinery Row Bicycles – Machinery Row Bicycles achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Employee Commuting/3 stars) status for investing in bike commuting amenities for employees, resulting in 65% of their workforce cycling to work. Active transportation like biking has a positive impact on our climate, community, and individual health. 

 

Madison Metropolitan School District – Achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Building Design/4 stars) status for two separate Phase 1 referendum projects. These schools embody Madison Metropolitan School District’s commitment to environmental stewardship, and are being designed as high-quality learning environments and community resources, incorporating green energy and moving them closer to the goal of achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

 

Madison Gas & Electric – MGE achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Catalyst) status for their goal to deliver net-zero carbon electricity by 2050. Working with customers to grow use of cost-effective, cleaner energy and to advance energy efficiency and the electrification of transportation are all key strategies for achieving targeted carbon reductions consistent with global climate science.

 

Midwest Solar Power – Achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Water/1 star and Waste/3 stars) status. As part of the buildout of the new office space, Midwest Solar Power installed a reverse osmosis water system and a water fountain with a water bottle filling station installed that has already been used 350 times by employees, reducing plastic water bottle usage and waste. The office also showcases signage from the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District. Midwest Solar Power completed a waste audit and diverted over 77% of waste. The waste policy reduces packaging materials, contamination in each waste stream, and offers training on proper waste disposal for all employees.

 

Overture Center – Overture Center achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Other) status for tripling the overall number of recycling cans in the building, adding recycling language to programs, and creating signage to assist guests. The Sustainability Committee hosted a staff “lunch and learn” with documentaries and discussion, alongside a staff clothing swap.

 

Reynolds Transfer & Storage – Reynolds Transfer & Storage achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Catalyst) status for their mission partnering with non-profits. The company helps furnish apartments with donated items, allowing them to bring together those with extra and those in need, thus reducing the amount of waste that ends up at the landfill.

 

The River Food Pantry – The River Food Pantry achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Waste/emerging) status for their commitment to supporting a healthy environment for all and building more sustainable local food systems. Waste is a major aspect of most U.S. food systems and a significant contributor to greenhouse gasses, so redirecting edible food to those in need and composting inedible materials addresses immediate community needs while reducing future problems.


  • Stoughton Appliance Repair – Stoughton Appliance Repair achieved 2025 (Catalyst) status for their model of repairing appliances instead of replacing them, helping their customers save money while keeping thousands of pounds of waste out of local landfills each year.

  • Troy Gardens – Troy Gardens achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Other) status for installing solar to power the cooler and greenhouse, making their garden operations more efficient.

  • UW-Madison Office of Sustainability & UW Athletics – UW-Madison Office of Sustainability and UW Athletics achieved 2025 Climate Champion (Catalyst) status for their innovation working with Coldplay. In preparation for Coldplay’s show, students at the UW-Madison Office of Sustainability developed social media to share information for concert attendees about how they might lower their carbon footprint when traveling to the concert. Students prepared questions to ask during the Madison tour stop, thereby creating a living learning opportunity out of the concert experience.

To learn more about the 2025 Climate Champions, visit the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change website and the related Climate Champions map.