Alliant Energy Announces 6 Solar Projects Totaling 675 MW In Wisconsin

6 years Cynthia Shahan 0 Comments
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Solar is top of the list of cost-effective and sustainable energy options. The solar industry also creates long-term careers, bringing cleaner futures into the community, as well as the individual employees. Solar energy investments create a whole circle of economic growth, without the harm of the fossil fuel industry.

Alliant Energy has announced that it intends to initiate the development of 675 megawatts (MW) of solar in mostly rural areas in six Wisconsin counties: Grant, Jefferson, Richland, Rock, Sheboygan, and Wood.

The company’s Clean Energy Blueprint is spearheading the strategic roadmap to cost-effectively accelerate renewable energy and, thus, more environmentally friendly progress into Wisconsin.

Image courtesy Alliant Energy

“Once operational, the energy from the projects will be enough to power 175,000 homes per year – making Alliant Energy the largest owner-operator of solar in Wisconsin,” the company notes. “Collectively, these projects are expected to create more than 1,200 local construction jobs, and, once operational, will provide an estimated $80 million in local tax revenues over the next 30 years.”

Last year, Alliant Energy announced plans to install 1,000 MW of solar power capacity in Wisconsin by 2023. The 6 projects above are not in addition to that, but rather are the first phase of that plan. Here’s more info on the projects:

“Solar energy is a smart investment for our Wisconsin customers,” said David de Leon, President of Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin energy company. “At a time when much is changing, these projects will provide steady revenue to Wisconsin communities, create new construction, operation and maintenance jobs, and provide our customers with reliable and sustainable energy for years to come. Along with the rest of the Clean Energy Blueprint, these projects will help customers avoid more than $2 billion in long-term costs.”

The large solar power projects Alliant Energy is installing in Wisconsin are coming to life for two main reasons: 1) solar power is now cost competitive, and 2) the state, as elsewhere, is committed to taking action in support of environmental sustainability. This is the story in places around the world. How much #1 is the priority versus #2 varies, but the important point is that they now work in tandem.

“The projects, along with the recently announced retirement of the Edgewater Generating Station in Sheboygan, further Alliant Energy’s goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fueled generation by 40 percent,” the company shared.

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Cynthia Shahan

Cynthia Shahan started writing after previously doing research and publishing work on natural birth practices. She has a degree in Education, Anthropology, and Creative Writing. She has been closely following the solar and wind industries for nearly 20 years and the EV industry for more than a decade. Pronouns: She/Her

Cynthia Shahan has 1032 posts and counting. See all posts by Cynthia Shahan