Wisconsin's Largest Solar Project Fully Operational
Badger Hollow Solar Farm in Iowa County, Wis. Photo courtesy of We Energies.
MGE Energy’s utility subsidiary, Madison Gas and Electric (MGE), in partnership with We Energies, set another milestone in delivering safe, reliable and affordable clean energy to their customers. In early 2024, the utilities announced the Badger Hollow Solar Farm is fully online, completing the largest solar project in Wisconsin history.
The Badger Hollow Solar Farm is a 300-megawatt (MW) renewable energy facility located near the communities of Montfort and Cobb in Iowa County, Wisconsin. The project came online in two 150-MW phases. The second phase began powering homes and businesses across Wisconsin in December 2023. The facility’s first phase came online in December 2021. The solar facility's 300-MW generating capacity is equal to powering about 90,000 homes.
The project’s 830,000 solar panels move and track the sun throughout the day, maximizing power generation. The panels also capture solar energy on both sides—an especially useful feature in winter when sun reflects off the snow and onto the panels.
"Wisconsin utilities have a long history of working together, and I appreciate the partnership with We Energies to make this project a great success," said Jeff Keebler, MGE Chairman, President and CEO. "The completion of Badger Hollow is another step in our ongoing transition to greater use of cost-effective, carbon-free, renewable energy to serve all MGE electric customers. By 2030, we expect every MGE electric customer will have 80% fewer carbon emissions from their electricity use simply by being an MGE customer as we work toward our goal of net-zero carbon electricity."
We Energies and MGE jointly own the second phase of the Badger Hollow Solar Farm. MGE owns 50 MW. We Energies owns 100 MW of the facility's capacity.
Wisconsin Public Service, another subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, owns 100 MW of the first phase. MGE owns the other 50 MW.