Madison Gas & Electric proposes largest wind farm

Madison Gas & Electric (MGE), the utility subsidiary of Wisconsin public utility holding company MGE Energy, announced that it is proposing a 66-megawatt (MW) wind farm near Saratoga, Iowa, marking the company’s largest to date.

MGE plans to construct, own and operate the $107 million dollar project, which would consist of 33 wind turbines that would stand almost 500 feet tall.

In 2015, MGE began site selection for the Saratoga Wind Farm. In 2016, the company obtained development rights from RPM Access, LLC, the original wind farm developer for the site.

On Feb. 21, MGE filed a letter with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) notifying the Commission of their intent to seek approval to build the wind farm. The company expects to file its official application in March, and, if approved, begin construction in 2018.

Under MGE’s Energy 2015 framework, the utility increased its renewable energy resources by almost 12 times and cut carbon emissions by 20 percent between 2005 and 2015. The company’s Energy 2030 plan seeks to supply 30 percent of electric sales with renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.

MGE is aiming to enter the Saratoga Wind Farm into service in December 2018.