MGE Plans Dane County Solar and Battery Storage Project
MGE Energy’s utility subsidiary, Madison Gas and Electric (MGE), is seeking state regulatory approval to purchase a share of the Koshkonong Solar Energy Center. Under the proposal, MGE will own 30 megawatts (MW) of solar energy and 16.5 MW of battery storage from the 465-MW solar and battery storage facility to be located in the Towns of Christiana and Deerfield in Dane County.
"We are transforming our grid for the future in a number of different ways, one of which is growing our use of cost-effective, renewable generation to decarbonize our energy supply. The Koshkonong Solar Energy Center and other recently announced renewable projects will help us manage long-term costs to customers," explained Jeff Keebler, MGE Chairman, President and CEO. "There is no fuel cost with solar and wind energy, and battery storage will help us manage costs and maintain our top-ranked electric reliability as we transition to greater use of renewables."
MGE announced earlier this year plans to purchase the following:
Koshkonong Solar Energy Center
If approved, the approximately 4,600-acre project will include a 300-MW solar array and a 165-MW battery storage system near Cambridge in Dane County. We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service, both subsidiaries of WEC Energy Group, will own the remaining 270 MW of the output and 148.5 MW of battery storage from the project. Construction is expected to begin in 2022 and the project is expected to begin serving customers by the end of 2024.
MGE's net‐zero carbon electricity goal
In May 2019, MGE announced its goal of net-zero carbon electricity by 2050, making it one of the first utilities in the nation to commit to net-zero carbon by mid-century. MGE's net-zero goal is consistent with the latest climate science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) October 2018 Special Report on limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
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 IPCC.