Wisconsin’s energy future is looking brighter as Alliant Energy has completed six new solar projects in the state. Already the top utility in terms of Wisconsin solar generation, the completion of these projects adds 514 MW of solar energy, tripling Alliant’s solar generation capacity and increasing customer access to renewable energy.
“Completing these projects is a huge milestone and a pivotal moment in our journey toward a brighter energy future,” said David de Leon, Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin president. “We’re proud to leverage new technology and locally generated energy solutions to increase customer value and help avoid long-term costs. Adding this solar power to the grid is just one way we’re diversifying our energy generation portfolio and increasing customer access to clean, reliable, cost-effective energy.”
In addition to generating clean, zero-fuel-cost electricity for Alliant Energy customers, the solar projects deliver long-term economic and financial benefits to local communities. The six newly completed projects are:
• Albany Solar Project, a 50 MW site in Green County.
• Cassville Solar Project, a 50 MW site in Grant County.
• Onion River Solar Project, a 150 MW site in Sheboygan County.
• Paddock Solar Project, a 65 MW site in Rock County.
• Springfield Solar Project, a 100 MW site in Dodge County.
• Wautoma Solar Project, a 99 MW site in Waushara County.
Construction on these sites began in 2022 and employed nearly 1,000 workers who completed the projects safely and efficiently.
“By prioritizing the use of local unionized labor on renewable energy projects, Alliant Energy is able to deliver exceptional value to their customers while keeping project dollars in the community,” said Emily Pritzkow, executive director of the Wisconsin Building Trades Council. “The construction of renewable energy projects with skilled union labor creates a ripple effect that drives local economic growth and supports strong communities.”
Durable, high-performance, bi-facial solar panels improve site efficiency and are designed to withstand severe weather conditions including high winds, snow and hail. Additional features, including native low-growth grass and approximately 300 acres of native pollinator habitat across these six sites, enhance the environmental benefits of the arrays to ensure a more sustainable energy future.
“It is clear that Alliant Energy understands and recognizes the multiple benefits that large-scale solar power plants bring to Wisconsin,” said Michael Vickerman, clean energy deployment manager for RENEW Wisconsin. “More than just a clean source of electricity, solar power reduces agricultural runoff, restores soil fertility, keeps carbon sequestered in the ground and recharges local economies.”
The six newly completed sites are among the 12 utility-scale solar projects Alliant Energy has advanced in Wisconsin as part of its Clean Energy Blueprint to deliver greater energy reliability, sustainability and customer value. The company placed three solar projects totaling 250 MW into service in 2022. The remaining three projects are in final construction phases; the company expects to complete them by mid-2024. Once all 12 projects are in service, they will be able to generate 1,089 MW and power nearly 300,000 homes annually.
Alliant Energy’s increasingly diverse and resilient energy portfolio, combined with recently approved battery energy storage systems, is a major step for the company as it works toward its aspirational goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from utility operations by 2050.
— Solar Builder magazine
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