MGE Seeks Approval to Purchase Wind Farm

In late March, our utility subsidiary, Madison Gas and Electric (MGE), filed for state regulatory approval to purchase part of the Red Barn Wind Farm. If approved, MGE will own 9.1 megawatts (MW) of the 92-MW wind farm to be built in the Towns of Wingville and Clifton in Grant County.

The approximately 12,000-acre project will feature 28 turbines. Wisconsin Public Service (WPS), a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, will own the remaining 82.5 MW.

The Red Barn Wind Farm will help MGE to meet future energy and capacity needs cost-effectively as the company continues its ongoing transition away from coal-fired electricity with the planned retirement of the Columbia Energy Center in Portage by the end of 2024. The project, if approved, is part of more than 300 MW of new renewable generation capacity announced since MGE introduced its Energy 2030 framework for a more sustainable future in November 2015.

Construction is expected to begin in 2022, if approved. The Red Barn Wind Farm is expected to begin serving customers by the end of 2022. MGE's share of the Red Barn Wind Farm will power about 4,000 households.

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.