Net-Zero Carbon Electricity by 2050 - MGE Energy, Inc. - Madison, Wisconsin

Net-Zero Carbon Electricity by 2050

Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) is working toward a more sustainable future for the benefit of all its investors, employees, customers and the broader community. The company is targeting net-zero carbon electricity by 2050.

Strategies for Deep Decarbonization

MGE already has been on a path toward reduced carbon emissions, having previously established a carbon reduction goal of at least 80% by 2050 from 2005 levels.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change October 2018 Special Report on limiting global warming to 1.5°C relies on decarbonizing electric generation, using energy efficiently, and electrifying other energy uses, including transportation. These are the strategies MGE is pursuing and will continue to pursue to achieve net-zero carbon electricity.

In early 2022, MGE committed to achieving carbon reductions of at least 80% by 2030 from 2005 levels. If we can go further faster by working together with our customers toward net-zero carbon electricity, we will.

See MGE's Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Report for additional information.

Our Framework for a More Sustainable Future

In November 2015, MGE announced its framework for a more sustainable future. The framework laid out the company's foundational objectives for building your community energy company for the future:

  • Provide customers with options they want today and in the future,
  • Help customers use energy efficiently and control future costs for all customers,
  • Transition MGE to a more environmentally sustainable energy supply,
  • Provide a dynamic electric grid that can integrate energy technologies to serve all customers, and
  • Ensure that new and changing technology serves all customers equitably.
  • Deepen our engagement with the community.

MGE will continue to seize opportunities and take advantage of new, evolving technologies to achieve carbon reductions.

Cleaner Energy

MGE continues to invest in the decarbonization of its energy supply by growing its use of renewable energy resources like solar and wind power. 

Solar Power: MGE is committed to growing its use of renewable energy resources, including solar energy, as it works to reduce the carbon intensity of its electric generation. The company also is investing in the combination of solar and battery storage. 

See MGE’s current and proposed solar projects. 

Wind Power: MGE has been involved for decades in building or operating a number of wind farms in Wisconsin and Iowa to help serve its customers with clean energy. MGE's wind farms also help keep energy dollars in the region while creating an economic opportunity for host farmers and communities.  

See MGE's current and proposed wind farms.

Community Solar: MGE's community solar program, Shared Solar, provides eligible electric customers an easy, affordable way to lower their carbon footprint by purchasing shares of locally generated solar energy. 

Renewable Energy Rider (RER): Under this program, MGE partners with large customers on customized renewable energy solutions to power all or a portion of their business.

The RER model is designed to meet the needs and goals of companies or organizations that support or have signed on to the Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers' Principles, a collaboration facilitated by the World Resources Institute and the World Wildlife Fund.

Learn more about MGE's RER program.

Transition from Coal: MGE has no controlling interest in coal-fired generation. The company continues to grow its use of carbon-free energy generation as it targets net-zero carbon electricity by 2050.

MGE is a minority owner of the coal-fired Elm Road Generating Station in Oak Creek, Wis. In October 2025, MGE, along with the plant's co-owners, filed a joint application with State regulators to end the use of coal as a primary fuel at Elm Road and transition the plant to natural gas. By the end of 2030, coal is expected to be used only as a backup fuel at Elm Road. By the end of 2032, MGE expects that Elm Road will be fully transitioned away from coal. 

MGE and the other co-owners of the Columbia Energy Center are partnering on the first long-duration energy storage system of its kind to be developed in the United States. The 18-megawatt project is designed to improve grid stability and deliver enough electricity to power approximately 18,000 homes for 10 hours on a single charge. The added reliability and dispatchability provided by the project will help to further enable MGE's ongoing transition toward greater use of carbon-free energy. 

MGE, as a minority owner, and Columbia's other co-owners continue to evaluate transitioning away from coal and replacing the generation from Columbia while maintaining electric service reliability. MGE and Columbia's other co-owners are exploring converting Columbia to natural gas. 

New Technologies

Enabling new technologies, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and smart home technology, is a priority under MGE's Energy 2030 framework.

  • EV Charging: MGE is a utility leader in EV charging with a network of public charging stations that operates on 100% clean energy (including an EV fast-charging hub in the heart of Madison’s Capitol East District), an EV home charging program and other programs and pilots for employers and multifamily property owners to install charging stations at workplaces and residential properties. MGE is working to serve a growing EV market and to reduce carbon emissions.
  • Partnerships: MGE is partnering with the City of Madison's Metro Transit, which serves the majority of MGE's electric service territory with public transit, to facilitate electric buses and charging infrastructure. The City has a goal to electrify its bus fleet. MGE is providing financial and in-kind support as well as expertise to support the City's electrification efforts. 
  • Smart Thermostat Program: MGE works with residential electric customers through MGE Connect®. With customers’ permission, minor temperature adjustments are made to their smart thermostats to reduce energy use during periods of high demand. The program allows MGE to better understand the role and impact of smart devices in managing demand on our community grid. MGE is meeting another objective under our framework for a more sustainable future to deepen customer engagement around energy efficiency and conservation.
  • Residential Battery Storage: In collaboration with the Electric Power Research Institute and residential electric customers, MGE is working with several homeowners who have a solar photovoltaic system and a battery installed outside their home. This project helps MGE understand how batteries operate in Wisconsin temperatures and how batteries could help to control long-term costs by managing our collective use of energy. Battery storage also could provide enhanced reliability as we continue our transition to greater use of renewable resources. 
  • Managed EV Charging: MGE is partnering with EV drivers in our service territory to test how smart charging using vehicle telematics can save customers money and help plan for the impact of EVs on our grid.  

Energy 2050 Together Web Content: One of the ways in which MGE seeks to engage customers and keep customers informed of efforts to achieve deep decarbonization is through Energy 2050 Together, which features content about clean energy programs and projects, new technologies, such as EVs, and energy-saving tips and information.