State Regulators Approve New Energy Storage Project
First-of-its-kind facility supports MGE’s clean energy transition.
The innovative Columbia Energy Storage Project, a partnership between the co-owners of the Columbia Energy Center, received approval from State regulators in June.
The Columbia Energy Storage Project is 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 on the grid will help the partner utilities meet peak demand and further enable MGE’s ongoing clean energy transition.
The project will be built south of Portage in the town of Pacific, near the current Columbia Energy Center, which is co-owned by Alliant Energy, Wisconsin Public Service and MGE. MGE is a minority owner of the power plant. Construction is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed by the end of 2027.
Learn more about MGE’s clean energy transition and the Columbia Energy Storage Project.
published: August 26, 2025
