Madison Gas and Electric details sustainability efforts in annual report

Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) detailed its efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in its Annual Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Report, released this week.

In addition to its clean energy investments, the report covers MGE’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; plans to end the use of coal; and partnerships to advance energy efficiency, sustainability and the electrification of transportation.

“MGE is committed to building a more sustainable energy future for the benefit of our customers, investors and the broader community,” MGE Chairman, President and CEO Jeff Keebler said. “By working with customers to grow our use of clean energy, advance energy efficiency and electrify transportation, we can meet our goal of net-zero carbon by 2050. If we can go further faster through the use of new technologies and partnerships with our customers and communities, we will.”

Among the highlights of the report, MGE expects to achieve carbon reductions of at least 65 percent by 2030. To date, MGE has reduced carbon emissions 30 percent from 2005 levels. Also, MGE expects to have nearly 400 megawatts of wind, solar and battery storage between 2015 and 2024.

In addition, as a minority owner, MGE is working with the co-owners of the Columbia Energy Center near Portage, Wisconsin, to retire the coal-fired plant by the end of 2024. The company expects to eliminate coal as an energy source by 2035.

Further, MGE is seeking to transition to a fleet that is 100 percent all-electric or plug-in hybrid light-duty vehicles by 2030.

MGE said it continues to participate in the Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI) environmental, social, governance (ESG) and sustainability reporting templates. The voluntary, industry-specific templates include data related to MGE’s portfolio (generation and capacity), emissions, capital expenditures, human and natural resources, and other matters.

MGE provides electricity to 157,000 customers in Dane County, Wisconsin, and natural gas to 166,000 customers in seven south‐central and western Wisconsin counties.