MADISON, Wis. (Oct. 25, 2021) – The 75-megawatt (MW) Crawfish River Solar Project, located in the town of Jefferson in Jefferson County, is officially transitioning in ownership from Ranger Power and D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) to Alliant Energy. This milestone follows the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin’s approval in June 2021 on Alliant Energy’s filing to add 675 MW of solar energy to its generation portfolio.
“Alliant Energy is leading the transition to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future,” stated Ben Lipari, director of project development and customer solutions at Alliant Energy. “We are making significant solar investments in south central Wisconsin, including the Crawfish River Project, as part of that long-term plan. This new solar project will create hundreds of jobs, spur economic development and deliver long-term cost savings for our Wisconsin customers. It has been a pleasure to work with Ranger Power throughout the development phase of this project, and we look forward to partnering with them as our engineering, procurement and construction contractor.”
Alliant Energy is contracting with a subsidiary of DESRI to construct this project. Construction is expected to begin in the spring with a targeted completion date in late 2022. During construction, more than 250 jobs are expected to be created. Once operational, the 75-MW project will generate enough electricity to power nearly 20,000 Wisconsin homes. Combined, the town and county will receive an estimated $300,000 in annual shared revenues for the next 30 years to be used as determined by local communities and their elected officials.
“Alliant Energy is an innovator in sustainable energy solutions and shares our goal of keeping Wisconsin’s energy dollars local through economical and environmentally friendly generation,” said Paul Harris, president of Ranger Power. “We are proud to partner with Alliant Energy to construct the Crawfish River project, which will help power tens of thousands of homes while providing significant economic and environmental benefits to the Town of Jefferson and Jefferson County.”
For more information, visit Alliant Energy’s solar webpage.
Background: In May 2020, Alliant Energy introduced its plan to construct six large-scale solar projects in Wisconsin. Then, in March 2021, the company announced plans to build six more projects, making Alliant Energy the largest owner and operator of solar energy in the state of Wisconsin. This is in accordance with Alliant Energy’s Clean Energy Blueprint, an outline of the company’s acceleration and transition to clean energy.
In total, Alliant Energy has proposed 12 solar projects planned for nine Wisconsin counties. Collectively, they will add nearly 1,100 MW of solar energy generation to the state’s energy grid, enough to power nearly 300,000 homes. Along with other initiatives in the Clean Energy Blueprint, these projects will help customers avoid more than $2 billion in long-term costs. They will also deliver steady revenue through new construction opportunities, create an estimated 2,000 construction jobs and provide approximately $300 million in revenues to local communities and landowners over an estimated project lifespan of 30 years.
These projects demonstrate the company’s commitment to advance clean energy solutions and strengthen the communities they serve. In addition, Alliant Energy says that this investment in solar will provide customers with reliable, environmentally friendly energy long into the future.
With increasing sustainability expectations from customers and businesses, now is the time to transition to more renewable energy generation. Alliant Energy is committed to elevating its sustainable practices and cost-effectively accelerating renewable energy generation while reducing carbon emissions.
Solar generating projects have a low profile and are virtually noiseless. They generate zero emissions, odors or harmful byproducts. During operation, planted prairie grasses and pollinator habitats create a hospitable environment for pollinating insects and birds. When the project reaches the end of its useful life (approximately 30 years), per regulatory agreement, Alliant Energy can choose to extend the project timeline or remove the equipment and restore the land for use as desired, including for agriculture.
