MGE is partnering with Dane County to develop a 9-megawatt (MW) solar array near the Dane County Regional Airport. It will generate enough carbon-free electricity to provide the County with about 40% of the energy used by all of its facilities.

MGE is building the solar project under its Renewable Energy Rider (RER) program, an innovative model that grows clean energy in the community. Under an RER agreement, MGE partners with a large energy user to tailor a renewable energy solution to meet that customer’s energy needs. RER customers are responsible for costs associated with the renewable generation facility and any distribution costs to deliver energy to the customer.

MGE will own the solar array and sell the energy it produces to Dane County under a 30-year fixed-rate contract with a 2% escalator. The County will save an estimated $137,000 over the first year of operation compared to purchasing electricity at the standard rate. Additionally, an RER project does not require upfront capital. And the RER project at the airport helps the County meet its renewable goals with locally generated energy.

One challenge with developing large-scale solar projects is that land is needed, which can be a significant cost. In this case, Dane County already owned 58 acres next to the airport that could not be commercially developed because of its proximity to the runway. However, it makes an ideal location for the solar array. And because the solar array is being built on land versus a rooftop, tracking technology can be used. Unlike fixed systems, solar trackers follow the sun’s path throughout the day resulting in up to 35% more energy than a fixed array would provide.

In addition to obtaining project approval from state regulators, MGE needed a green light from the Federal Aviation Administration. Studies were conducted to ensure the solar farm would not cause any glint or glare for pilots flying in to or out of the airport or for people driving vehicles on Highway 51.

The 31,000-solar-panel project at the Dane County Regional Airport is the largest solar project in Dane County and will be the largest in the state built for a single customer. The solar array is expected to begin producing clean energy by the end of the year.
 

		Other RER projects on deck MGE is working with local partners on two additional Renewable Energy Rider (RER) projects in the Madison area. The RER program gives participating customers another way to help meet their renewable energy goals. O'Brien Solar Fields  Located at the corner of Lacy Road and South Seminole Highway, this project will generate 20 megawatts (MW) of carbon-free energy. MGE is partnering with these customers through RER agreements:  City of Fitchburg Placon Promega Corporation Tribe 9 Foods University of Wisconsin-Madison Willy Street Co-op Wisconsin Department of Administration Governmental participants have signed 30-year service agreements to take energy from O'Brien Solar Fields for the full life of the project. The other commercial partners have entered into 15-year agreements with MGE. When that time is up, they will have the option to continue for another 15 years at a discounted rate. MGE received approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) in October. This project could be operating by early summer 2021. Hermsdorf Solar Project MGE will request approval from state regulators to build an 8-MW solar array near the Rodefeld landfill on Highway 12. MGE is partnering with the City of Madison and Madison Metropolitan School District on this project.

 

MGE's net-zero carbon goal

MGE is targeting net-zero carbon electricity by the year 2050. Under MGE's Energy 2030 framework for a more sustainable future, MGE has been working toward carbon dioxide emissions reductions of at least 40% by 2030 from 2005 levels, which is consistent with U.S. emissions targets established as part of the Paris Agreement on climate change. To reach these goals, MGE is growing its use of renewable energy, engaging customers around energy efficiency and facilitating the electrification of transportation, all of which are key strategies identified by the United States for achieving deep decarbonization.

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