New solar generating site in MiEnergy’s service territory

Cresco, IA | Rushford, MN  (1:30 p.m. Oct. 30, 2019)— A utility-scale solar generation site is now online and producing renewable energy in MiEnergy Cooperative’s service territory.

The Madison Solar Site is a 1.5-megawatt solar energy array owned and operated by ENGIE North America. Dairyland Power Cooperative, MiEnergy’s wholesale power provider, has a power purchase agreement with ENGIE for the full output of the facility. ENGIE installed, owns, operates and maintains the facility, which is located south of Highway 9 between Ridgeway and Decorah on 270^th Avenue.

“As your local energy cooperative, we are pleased to support development of local renewable energy,” said Brian Krambeer, MiEnergy’s president and CEO. “Solar energy is an important part of a sustainable future and it’s exciting to celebrate commercial operation of a facility here in the Decorah community.”

Madison Solar covers roughly 11 acres and is projected to produce enough energy to power approximately 240 homes per year. The solar installation is engineered with a tracking system which follows the path of the sun to increase energy production. Beneficial bee and butterfly habitat is also being developed at the Madison solar site. ENGIE is using native seed mixes of grasses and flowers to create a certified pollinator garden.

Madison Solar is one of 18 cooperative solar sites in the region

Madison Solar is the final site to come online of 18 solar installations Dairyland has under contract for the benefit of MiEnergy and 23 other member cooperatives within Dairyland’s service territory in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois. Together, Madison Solar and the 17 other sites yield 25 MW of solar energy, producing enough renewable energy to power nearly 4,000 homes.