Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce issued the following announcement on March 22.
WPR: The Public Service Commission unanimously approved utilities' $433 million purchase of Wisconsin’s first and largest utility-scale solar project using battery storage in Kenosha County despite objections from consumer advocacy groups.
We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service and Madison Gas and Electric are acquiring the 200-megawatt solar project that will produce enough power for around 60,000 homes, as well as provide 110 megawatts of battery storage.
Chicago-based developer Invenergy is building the 1,500-acre project in the town of Paris. We Energies and WPS, owned by WEC Energy Group, will own 90 percent of the project while MGE would own the remaining 10 percent.
The three utilities say the project is part of efforts to go carbon-neutral by 2050, which is in line with Gov. Tony Evers' goal for utilities to produce carbon-free electricity in the next 30 years. Construction is set to begin this year, and the project will begin operating in 2023.
"The Paris Solar-Battery Park is part of our commitment to invest $3.5 billion in renewable energy projects in the coming years. These investments will help us aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions while providing affordable, reliable and clean energy for a sustainable future," said Scott Lauber, president and CEO of WEC Energy Group, in a statement.
Jeff Keebler, president and CEO of Madison Gas and Electric, said in a news release that the first addition of utility-scale battery storage is "a new and important technology" that will aid the company's transition to clean energy.
Original source can be found here.
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