Wisconsin’s largest solar facility now operational

Published on July 21, 2016 by Jessica Limardo


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The Rock River solar facility, located in the town of Beloit, opened its doors on Monday, and will provide 500 residential Alliant Energy customers with solar energy as part of the utility’s effort to provide more clean energy solutions for Wisconsin.

“Investments in clean energy have been central to our plan for decades,” Alliant Energy Chairman, President and CEO Patricia Kampling said. “Solar is an important part of our future energy mix, and one of many ways we are following a path of sustainability and stewardship.”

The Rock River solar plant is a 2.3-megawatt facility with more than 7,700 solar panels across 17 acres of land. The facility is located on top of a landfill – a strategic decision made in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to repurpose the land to produce environmental benefits for the state and clean energy resources for residents.

The plant is owned and operated by Hanwha Q CELLS USA. Alliant Energy signed a 10-year power purchase agreement to buy the energy generated from the facility, with an option to purchase the plant at the end of the 10-year period.

Alliant Energy provides electricity and natural gas to more than 1.3 million energy customers in Wisconsin and Iowa. It is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, and is part of the S&P 500.