Alliant Energy Completes 200-MW Wisconsin Solar Project
Alliant Energy announced it successfully completed constructing its Grant County Solar project. The 200-MW solar array in Potosi, Wisconsin, can generate enough electricity to power more than 50,000 homes annually.
The project’s completion is the culmination of Alliant Energy’s multi-phase buildout of 12 utility-scale solar projects in Wisconsin totaling 1089 MW. This investment in a diverse energy generation mix created more than 2700 jobs across all projects. It improves service reliability and enables Alliant Energy to power nearly 300,000 homes annually with zero-fuel-cost solar energy.
“The successful completion of the Grant County Solar project is a milestone achievement on our journey toward a cleaner, more reliable and cost-effective energy future,” said Lisa Barton, president and chief executive officer of Alliant Energy. “Investing in a diverse energy mix is just one way we add value for customers while sustaining the economic and environmental health of the communities we serve. Together, with our customers, local communities, and construction partners, we are making Wisconsin’s energy future brighter than ever.”
Encompassing more than 1400 acres (567 ha), the Grant County Solar project site hosts more than 430,000 solar panels and features nearly 350 acres (142 ha) of native pollinator habitat. Alliant Energy expects the site will generate an estimated US$30 million in new shared revenue for the county and town over the life of the project.
“I’ve seen the benefits of this solar project in the community firsthand,” said Dave Fritz, a local business owner and participating landowner. “Solar lease payments help local landowners like me diversify our income and preserve our land’s value for the future. In terms of economic impact, the Grant County Solar project delivered on its promise of jobs and will benefit local taxpayers for decades thanks to the added shared revenue payments.”
Alliant Energy contracted with a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources LLC to construct the Grant County Solar project. Construction began in September 2022, employing more than 700 workers. The influx of jobs helped maximize the local economic benefit of the project.
“Part of our commitment to an efficient and reliable energy future means making more renewable sources of energy accessible,” said Anthony Pedroni, vice president of renewables and storage development at NextEra Energy Resources. “This solar energy project reflects the shared commitment we have with Alliant Energy to deliver cost-effective clean energy solutions that benefit communities and the environment.”
The announcement underscores Alliant Energy’s role as a leader in the clean energy transition. In addition to being Wisconsin’s largest owner and operator of solar energy generation, Alliant Energy plans to develop nearly 275 MW of energy storage capacity to complement its renewable portfolio. This includes the 100-MW Grant Country Battery project that will also be located at the Grant County Solar project site.
Through the investments outlined in the company’s Clean Energy Blueprint, Alliant Energy is diversifying its generation portfolio, improving energy security and working to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from utility operations by 2050.
