River Falls Municipal Utilities has once again received national recognition from the Department of Energy National Laboratory of the Rockies, the formerly named National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 

RFMU ranked second among utilities in the top 10 of the Utility Green Pricing Participation Rate with more than 18% in 2024. The utility is also ranked fourth in the top 10 of the Utility Green Pricing Sales Rate with nearly 10%. 

The utility has consistently ranked in the top 10 for nearly a decade. The rankings were released Feb. 3.

“It’s exciting to have River Falls’ residents and businesses continue to be invested in a zero-carbon future,” said Kevin Westhuis, utility director of RFMU. “They are receiving much deserved national attention for their commitment to renewable energy. I hope we can continue to lead the way.”  

NLR’s list for the participation rates measures the percentage of customers who participate in a utility’s programs. The sales rate ranks utilities by the same categories.  

One of the utility’s most popular offerings, Choose Renewable, helped the community obtain this recognition. The program allows customers to sign up to increase their monthly bill by a few dollars, ensuring their space is powered by renewable energy such as solar, wind and biogas. A typical home can run on clean energy with the purchase of two to three blocks, with one 300 kilowatt-hour block at a cost of $2 per month.  

To learn more about renewable energy efforts by RFMU, visit rfmu.org.