Wisconsin approved a plan that will quintuple the state’s solar capacity

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission approved five interrelated cases that will lead to a five-fold expansion of solar energy in Wisconsin, according to RENEW Wisconsin. The nonprofit estimates that Wisconsin closed 2018 with about 103 MW of solar power, about 80% of that residing on homes and buildings, directly serving the customers who bought the solar arrays.

When completed, these projects totaling of 450 megawatts of solar would produce about 1.3% of Wisconsin’s annual electricity consumption, and supply electricity equivalent to the usage of about 116,500 Wisconsin homes. Both projects should be operational by mid-2021.

The Badger Hollow Solar Farm project in Iowa County (300 MW). Badger Hollow could become the largest solar electric plant in the Midwest when completed. In addition, the PSC approved a “tie line” that will deliver Badger Hollow’s output to a nearby substation, where it will be injected into the existing southwest Wisconsin grid.

The Two Creeks Solar Project in Manitowoc County (150 MW). As with Badger Hollow, the PSC also approved a “tie line” that will deliver Two Creeks’ output to a nearby substation.

The PSC approved an application from two Wisconsin utilities, Wisconsin Public Service based in Green Bay and Madison Gas & Electric, to acquire a total of 300 MW of this new solar capacity. The utilities will acquire the entire Two Creeks Solar Farm and a 150 MW share of the Badger Hollow Solar Farm.

— Solar Builder magazine

[source: https://solarbuildermag.com/news/wisconsin-approved-a-plan-that-will-quintuple-the-states-solar-capacity/]