Commercial Solar Starts To Thrive in Wisconsin

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Commercial solar, one of the most underserved segments of the solar industry, is taking off in Wisconsin, according to a report by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

The driver of the push is falling solar prices, which takes the decision to add solar out of the realm of “it’s a nice thing to do” and into the realm of “from a business perspective, this is a must do.” In other words, the money-saving aspect of it has become so overwhelmingly compelling that there’s now an undeniable business case for it.

As Larry Schmidt Jr., chief financial officer of Lakeland Supply, told the paper:

I’m a numbers guy, and I wouldn’t be doing it if the numbers didn’t make sense. Obviously we want to be conscious of our energy use and things like that, but this definitely makes sense even if you say ‘I don’t care about our Earth.’ This is a financial decision, too.

[wds id=”3″]

Lakeland Supply put around 500 solar modules on its roof, which will supply the building with 61% of its electricity needs. But they aren’t the only ones. The paper writes:

The most current data from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin shows that between 2008 and the third quarter of 2017, the number of solar photovoltaic installations on commercial and industrial buildings in the state increased almost ninefold, to 1,030 from 118.

The Journal-Sentinel attributes the majority of the segment’s growth to falling module prices, which makes it more economically feasible for companies to move ahead with solar projects. They also say falling payback times – the amount of time it takes for businesses to recoup their investment – has provided a business rationale for putting solar modules on the roof.

Ten years ago, a story like Wisconsin’s would have been nearly unheard of, but with the success of other Midwestern states like Minnesota and Illinois, the growth of Wisconsin’s solar market now almost seems inevitable. And what makes them stand out from their Midwest competitors is that it’s the commercial segment that seems to be leading the way.

More:

Here’s why more Wisconsin companies are adding rooftop solar energy panels

Organic Valley Launches Community Solar Projects In Six Communities

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

It’s nice to see companies start putting their money where their mouth is.

Organic Valley, America’s largest cooperative of organic farmers and a leading organic brand, today announced details of the first-of-its-kind community solar partnership launched last year. The project enables Organic Valley to share the benefits of solar energy with its rural neighbors and become the largest food company in the world to be 100 percent renewably powered.

In October 2017, the company ambitiously committed to achieve 100 percent renewable power at its corporate facilities. Since pioneering this new model of community solar development, Organic Valley has unlocked solar beyond its needs.

[wds id=”3″]

In the spirit of cooperation, 13 communities across the Midwest will also benefit from this partnership, including six in Organic Valley’s project portfolio. Beyond the company’s 12.3 megawatt (MWdc) project portfolio, an additional 19 MWdc will be constructed, resulting in over 31 MWdc of new solar in the region, including a 33 percent increase in the state of Wisconsin. Partners for the remaining renewable energy credits will be announced later this year.

The six communities within Organic Valley’s portfolio that will benefit directly from the community solar partnership include Arcadia, Cashton, La Farge, Merrillan, and Viola in Wisconsin; and St. Charles in Minnesota. When the projects begin generating power next year, the Arcadia array, sized at 6.78 MW, will be the largest solar array in the state of Wisconsin.

Every member of these communities will benefit from stable and low electricity rates and the environmental benefits of renewable power for decades to come. Nearly 10,000 residents in these communities will soon have access to the power of the sun.

“Organic Valley is a farmer-owned cooperative with deep roots in the rural Midwest, so it makes sense that we would work together to create new sources of energy right here at home that can be shared by all,” said George Siemon, CEO and a founding farmer of Organic Valley. “We are committed to achieving 100 percent renewable electricity for our cooperative, but also sharing the bounty of solar electricity with rural communities where we live and work.”

Wisconsin Utilities Agree To Add 300 MW Of Solar To Portfolios

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Get ready for 300 MW of solar projects coming your way, Badger State.

Two of the state’s utilities – Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) and WEC Energy Group (WEC), through its Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) – will be partners in two projects in the state. The projects will be developed Invenergy and NextEra Energy Resources, according to applications filed with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) at a cost of approximately $390 million.

If approved by the end of 2018, construction of both projects is expected to begin by spring 2019, with both plants being operational by the end of 2020.

[wds id=”3″]

WPS would own 200 MW and MGE 100 MW of the combined output at two locations. Each plant is 150 MW, In both cases, WPS will 100 MW and MGE will own 50 MW of the output.

The Badger Hollow Solar Farm would be located in southwestern Wisconsin in Iowa County, and the Two Creeks solar project would be located in northeastern Wisconsin, near the Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant.

“This is another step forward as we move toward a more sustainable energy future and deep decarbonization,” said Jeff Keebler, MGE president and CEO. “These projects align with MGE’s short- and long-term carbon reduction goals. If approved, we look forward to the opportunity to grow cost-effective, clean energy to reliably serve our customers into the future.”

“Both of these projects represent opportunities for MGE to partner with proven solar developers with projects ready to begin the regulatory process,” Keebler added. “Renewable energy has decreased in cost and increased in efficiency in recent years. As with our Saratoga wind farm project currently under construction, Badger Hollow and Two Creeks are economic projects that lower long-term costs for our customers while meeting their energy needs for decades to come.”

“Investing in these solar projects is the first step in our overall plan to add solar capacity to our generation portfolio and save WPS customers more than $100 million over the economic lives of the projects, as compared to projected prices in the power market,” said Gale Klappa, CEO of WPS.