Alliant Energy: Triples solar capacity with completion of six projects

MADISON, Wis. (Dec. 28, 2023) – Wisconsin’s energy future has never been brighter as Alliant Energy announced it has successfully completed six new solar projects in Wisconsin. Already the top utility in terms of Wisconsin solar generation, the completion of these projects adds 514 megawatts (MW) of solar energy, tripling Alliant Energy’s solar generation capacity. This significantly increases customer access to renewable energy. 

“Completing these projects is a huge milestone and a pivotal moment in our journey toward a brighter energy future,” said David de Leon, Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin president. “We’re proud to leverage new technology and locally generated energy solutions to increase customer value and help avoid long-term costs. Adding this solar power to the grid is just one way we’re diversifying our energy generation portfolio and increasing customer access to clean, reliable, cost-effective energy.” 

In addition to generating clean, zero-fuel-cost electricity for Alliant Energy customers, the solar projects deliver long-term economic and financial benefits to local communities. The six newly completed projects are: 
• Albany Solar Project, a 50-MW site in Green County.
• Cassville Solar Project, a 50-MW site in Grant County.
• Onion River Solar Project, a 150-MW site in Sheboygan County. 
• Paddock Solar Project, a 65-MW site in Rock County. 
• Springfield Solar Project, a 100-MW site in Dodge County. 
• Wautoma Solar Project, a 99-MW site in Waushara County.

Construction on these sites began in 2022 and employed nearly 1,000 workers who completed the projects safely and efficiently. “By prioritizing the use of local unionized labor on renewable energy projects, Alliant Energy is able to deliver exceptional value to their customers while keeping project dollars in the community,” said Emily Pritzkow, executive director of the Wisconsin Building Trades Council. “The construction of renewable energy projects with skilled union labor creates a ripple effect that drives local economic growth and supports strong communities.”

Using only sunlight for fuel, these state-of-the-art solar arrays automatically track the movement of the sun to maximize energy generation. Durable, high-performance, bi-facial solar panels improve site efficiency and are designed to withstand severe weather conditions including high winds, snow and hail. Additional features, including native low-growth grass and approximately 300 acres of native pollinator habitat across these six sites, enhance the environmental benefits of the arrays to ensure a more sustainable energy future. 

“It is clear that Alliant Energy understands and recognizes the multiple benefits that large-scale solar power plants bring to Wisconsin,” said Michael Vickerman, clean energy deployment manager for RENEW Wisconsin. “More than just a clean source of electricity, solar power reduces agricultural runoff, restores soil fertility, keeps carbon sequestered in the ground and recharges local economies.”

The six newly completed sites are among the 12 utility-scale solar projects Alliant Energy has advanced in Wisconsin as part of its Clean Energy Blueprint to deliver greater energy reliability, sustainability and customer value. The company placed three solar projects totaling 250 MW into service in 2022. The remaining three projects are in final construction phases; the company expects to complete them by mid-2024. Once all 12 projects are in service, they will be able to generate 1,089 MW and power nearly 300,000 homes annually.

Alliant Energy’s increasingly diverse and resilient energy portfolio, combined with recently approved battery energy storage systems, is a major step for the company as it works toward its aspirational goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from utility operations by 2050.

Media contact: Tony Palese (608) 458-3132 | tonypalese@alliantenergy.com

About Alliant Energy

Alliant Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: LNT) provides regulated energy service to 995,000 electric and 425,000 natural gas customers across Iowa and Wisconsin. Alliant Energy’s mission is to deliver energy solutions and exceptional service customers and communities count on – safely, efficiently and responsibly. Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL) and Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL) are Alliant Energy’s two public energy companies. Alliant Energy is a component of the Nasdaq CRD Sustainability Index, Bloomberg’s Gender-Equality Index and the S&P 500. For more information, visit alliantenergy.com and follow us on LinkedInFacebookInstagram and X.

This release includes forward-looking statements. These statements can be identified because they include a word such as “expect” or other words or expressions of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe future plans or strategies, our clean energy vision, transitioning our energy resources, planned resource additions and future emissions reductions are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. Actual results could be materially affected by the following factors, among others: The inability to obtain necessary equipment and labor in a timely manner; access to and cost increases of materials, equipment and commodities including due to tariffs, duties or other assessments, such as any additional tariffs resulting from U.S. Department of Commerce investigations into the sourcing of solar project materials and equipment from certain countries, labor issues or supply shortages, the ability to successfully resolve warranty issues or contract disputes, the ability to achieve the expected level of tax benefits based on tax guidelines and project costs, and the ability to efficiently utilize the renewable generation and storage project tax benefits for the benefit of customers; governmental actions that delay or reject the proposed generation construction plans, or that include terms that make the future generation construction plans uneconomical; unanticipated construction issues, delays or expenditures; failure of equipment and technology to perform as expected; political conditions in Alliant Energy’s service territories; changes to Alliant Energy’s access to capital markets; adverse impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and responses to the pandemic; current or future litigation, regulatory investigations, proceedings or inquiries; and economic conditions in Alliant Energy’s service territory. These factors should be considered when evaluating the forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The forward-looking statements included herein are made as of the date hereof and Alliant Energy and Wisconsin Power and Light Company undertake no obligation to update publicly such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.