MGE Added Solar and Battery Storage in 2025—with More On the Way
The state's first large-scale battery storage project came online in 2025.
MGE continues its transition toward greater use of renewable energy with a number of projects having come online in 2025 and more on the way.
More solar energy serving MGE customers
MGE's Strix Solar project in Fitchburg, a 6-megawatt (MW) solar array, became operational in early 2025. Two-thirds of the project serve all MGE electric customers with locally generated, carbon-free energy. The remaining capacity serves Shared Solar – Strix, MGE's community solar program, which is now open for enrollment.
In Rock and Walworth counties, the Darien Solar Energy Center also came online this year. MGE owns 25 MW of the 250-MW solar facility. MGE also will own 7.5 MW of battery storage at Darien, part of a larger 75-MW system expected to be operational in 2026.
MGE also owns part of the Paris Solar-Battery Park in Kenosha County. In June, the facility's battery storage came online, making it the first large-scale battery storage project in Wisconsin. MGE owns 11 MW of battery storage at the Paris facility and 20 MW of solar capacity. The 200-MW solar facility came online in 2024.
Upcoming and proposed renewable energy projects
Earlier this year, MGE received regulatory approval for two new projects now in development:
- Sunnyside Solar Energy Center will be MGE's first local solar project with battery storage. Located in Fitchburg, the project will include a 20-MW solar array with 40 MW of four-hour battery storage. The solar facility is expected to begin serving customers in 2026 while the battery storage is expected online in 2027.
- High Noon Solar Energy Center, a 300-MW solar array in Columbia County with 165 MW of battery storage, is in partnership with We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service. MGE will own 30 MW of solar capacity and 16.5 MW of battery storage from the project, which is expected online in 2027.
In addition, MGE is seeking approval for several new wind and solar projects totaling more than 84 MW of renewable capacity—enough to power more than 30,000 households. MGE's ongoing clean energy transition includes shares of the following future projects:
- Badger Hollow Wind Farm in Iowa and Grant counties*
- Dawn Harvest Solar Energy Center in Rock County
- Good Oak Solar Farm in Columbia County
- Gristmill Solar Farm in Columbia County
- Saratoga Solar Energy Center in Wood County*
- Ursa Solar Park in Columbia County*
- Whitetail Wind Farm in Grant County*
MGE continues to evaluate additional renewable energy opportunities as part of our ongoing transition toward net-zero carbon electricity.
*In late November 2025, State regulators approved MGE's planned purchase of a share of this project.
published: November 30, 2025
