A Wisconsin-based utility is adding solar power and storage capacity to its system from a facility expected to be in service in two years. Madison Gas and Electric (MGE), in partnership with We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service (WPS), subsidiaries of WEC Energy Group, received approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to purchase solar energy and battery storage from the Koshkonong Solar Energy Center. MGE will own 30 MW of solar energy and 16.5 MW of battery storage from the facility located in the towns of Christiana and Deerfield in Dane County.
“The Koshkonong Solar Energy Center continues the progress we’ve already made reducing carbon emissions, increasing cost-effective renewable energy and advancing new technologies to benefit all our customers,” said Jeff Keebler, MGE chairman, president and CEO. “We are working aggressively to reduce our carbon emissions at least 80% from 2005 levels by the end of this decade and achieve net-zero carbon electricity by 2050. We are doing this while working to ensure all our customers experience the economic and environmental benefits of our ongoing clean energy transition.”
Koshkonong Solar Energy Center
The project will include a 300-MW solar array and a 165-MW battery storage system. It is expected to generate enough clean energy to power about 90,000 households. MGE’s share of the output will power about 9,000 households.
We Energies and WPS will own the remaining 270 MW of the output and 148.5 MW of battery storage from the project. Invenergy LLC is the project developer. The Koshkonong Solar Energy Center is estimated to begin serving customers in late 2025.
The Koshkonong Solar Energy Center is one of three announced investments by MGE in large-scale solar energy and battery storage. MGE also will own a 10% share of the Paris Solar-Battery Park and the Darien Solar Energy Center, both of which are under construction.
80% Carbon Reduction by 2030
MGE has a goal to reduce carbon emissions at least 80% by 2030, consistent with global climate science to limit global warming. The company continues to transition its energy supply to cleaner sources. Since 2015, MGE has announced several new utility-scale wind and solar projects, which are expected to increase MGE’s owned renewable capacity by more than nine times when completed.
To achieve deep decarbonization, MGE is growing its use of renewable energy, engaging customers around energy efficiency and working to electrify transportation, all of which are key strategies identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
MGE generates and distributes electricity to 161,000 customers in Dane County, and purchases and distributes natural gas to 173,000 customers in seven south-central and western Wisconsin counties. MGE’s parent company is MGE Energy Inc. The company’s roots in the Madison area date back more than 150 years.
— Solar Builder magazine
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