Adding More Wind and Solar to Serve Our Customers 

Growing our use of renewable resources is a part of our strategy for reducing carbon emissions at least 80% by 2030 and for achieving net-zero carbon electricity by 2050.

If you have travel plans this holiday season, you might pass by a wind farm while driving “back home” or even spot a solar array or two if you’re flying out of the Dane County Regional Airport. MGE is adding more wind and solar energy in Dane County and in the region to serve our customers.   

Growing our use of renewable resources is a part of our strategy for reducing carbon emissions at least 80% by 2030 and for achieving net-zero carbon electricity by 2050. In recent years, MGE has announced wind and solar projects that we expect will increase our owned renewable capacity by more than nine times when completed. Here’s a look at the clean energy projects that are now or will be serving our customers soon. 

Wind power 

MGE will own 9.1 megawatts (MW) of the 92-MW Red Barn Wind Farm under construction in Grant County, Wis. MGE’s share of the project will power about 4,000 households. Five other wind farms, located in Wisconsin and Iowa, already serve MGE electric customers with carbon-free electricity.  

Solar power  

MGE also is growing our use of cost-effective solar energy. MGE electric customers are currently served by 100 MW of solar energy from the Badger Hollow Solar Farm and the Two Creeks Solar project arrays. Another 125 MW of Wisconsin-generated solar, combined with battery storage, is expected to begin serving all MGE electric customers in the coming years.  

MGE’s investment in solar continues to grow locally, too, with a number of arrays in the Madison area. 

  • Currently the largest solar project in Dane County, MGE’s 20-MW O’Brien Solar Fields serves several large customers under our Renewable Energy Rider program. 
  • The 9-MW Dane County Airport Solar project helps power Dane County operations. 
  • The 8-MW Hermsdorf Solar Fields in Madison serves the City of Madison and the Madison Metropolitan School District. 
  • The 5-MW Morey Field Solar project at Middleton Municipal Airport serves Shared Solar customers, the City of Middleton and Middleton-Cross Plains Area School district. 

A 500-kilowatt rooftop array at the Middleton Municipal Operations Center serves Shared Solar participants. 

 

About our carbon reduction goals 

MGE was one of the first utilities in the nation to commit to net-zero carbon by 2050. And, at the beginning of this year, we announced our goal to reduce carbon at least 80% by 2030 from 2005 levels, consistent with climate science, as we work toward achieving net-zero carbon electricity. Adding more clean energy, advancing energy efficiency and the electrification of transportation are key strategies for achieving our carbon reduction goals. Visit mge2050.com to learn more about how MGE is partnering with our customers to reach shared goals. 

published: Nov-25-2022