As Program Director for RENEW Wisconsin, Heather Allen educates residents and decision-makers about the multiple benefits of renewable energy. Allen builds grassroots support for large scale wind and solar projects through partnerships with rural communities. Recognizing the disparate access to residential solar, Allen designed a new program, the MadiSUN Backyard Solar Grant, funded by the City of Madison to bring solar to underserved local families. In 2019, the City awarded $30,000 of new grant funding to install solar on three affordable housing developments.