The City of Racine is proposing to lease out 2.64 acres of land at Olsen Prairie Park, 3444 S. Memorial Drive, to We Energies for a 600 kilowatt solar farm. The initiative is through We Energies’ Solar Now pilot program. According to the terms of the proposed agreement, We Energies would own all the solar capacity and in return the city would receive about $2,000 per month for an estimated $26,151 per year.

The agreement also states that We Energies would be responsible for the design, permitting, construction and upkeep of the system. The lifetime of the lease is 30 years.

State regulators have approved a settlement negotiated with We Energies that will increase We Energies’ electric revenues by 1.3 percent and its gas revenues by 2.8 percent. The Public Service Commission will decide at a later hearing how the increase will be allocated among residential, small business, commercial, industrial and other customers.

The commission also approved similar settlements for Wisconsin Gas and Wisconsin Public Service. Wisconsin Gas’s overall rates will drop by 0.2 percent and WPS’ electric rates will increase 4.7 percent. The increases in electric rates will be the first for We Energies in four years and for WPS in five years. The rate increases approved for We Energies and WPS will be partially offset by lower fuel costs. And WPS’ rate increase will be partially offset by a lower tax rate approved in December 2017.

Ninety-five years ago Eau Claire agreed to allow a local power company to install hydroelectric generators at Dells Pond Dam. The city has signed a new agreement with Xcel Energy, which obtained ownership of the dam in 2003, to work together toward each of their even more ambitious goals to drastically cut pollution by 2050.

In March 2018, the City Council adopted a resolution providing that Eau Claire, the city government and entire community, should operate on percent renewable energy by 2050. Several months later, Xcel announced its intent to produce entirely carbon-free electricity by 2050

The Public Service Commission approved the first rate increases in four years for We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service of Green Bay, both subsidiaries of WEC Energy Group. Along with adjustments for fuel costs and provisions of a settlement agreement approved earlier this month, about 1.1 million We Energies customers can expect rates to increase by about 0.66 percent in 2020. Rates are expected to increase by about 1.6 percent for about 442,000 WPS customers. The PSC separately approved modest rate decreases for Madison Gas and Electric and Alliant Energy to account for lower-than-expected natural gas prices. Average residential customers of MGE can expect to save about 54 cents on their monthly electric bills in 2020, while the typical residential customer of Alliant will save about $1.58 per month. As part of the WEC rate cases, the commission ruled that neither utility can use ratepayer money to subsidize home charging stations for electric vehicles. The utilities had sought to spend up to $10 million to offer $1,000 rebates for customers who install the equipment as part of a two-year pilot program in which participants would pay time of use rates for charging their vehicles.

Brendan Conway, a spokesman for WE Energies had this to say about the PSC decision, “Working with the commission and customer and business groups, our rate proposal protects customers and allows us to continue on a path to a cleaner energy future that is safe, reliable and affordable. We appreciate the feedback from the commission on our EV proposal and will continue to work with them and other stakeholders on this emerging technology.”

Lyft and Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) are partnering to increase the use of electric vehicle (EV) ridesharing in Madison and grow awareness of the benefits of EVs. The two companies will offer a $500 bonus to Madison-area EV drivers who sign up to drive with Lyft. “This program is a unique opportunity for Madison-area residents to ride in an EV and experience what they have to offer,” said Debbie Branson, MGE Manager of Electrification. “EVs offer convenience— for example, with EVs, there are no oil changes or trips to the gas station. They cost less to fuel and maintain than gas-powered vehicles, and they are fun to drive.” Visit mge.com/Lyft to learn more.

Alliant Energy has been chosen for the annual list of the Top Utilities in Economic Development. Site Selection magazine provided the recognition based on the company’s contribution to the local economies and communities
in its service area.

“We’re proud to be recognized for our efforts to bring investment, growth and job creation to the communities we serve,” said Terry Kouba, President of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy  company. “We appreciate our local, regional and state economic development partners. Together, we can provide growth that brings value to our customers, communities and new and expanding businesses.”

Alliant Energy has completed the implosion of the remaining structures of the company’s Marshaltown Iowa Sutherland Generating Station (SGS). The demolition was carried out by Bierlein Companies from Midland, Michigan, and Dykon Blasting Corporation of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The 1950s-era coal-fired facility ceased operations in June 2017 following the construction of the nearby Marshalltown Generating Station (MGS). MGS is a 706-megawatt natural gas-fired facility and is one of the most efficient natural gas power plants in the nation. Its construction complements Alliant Energy’s renewable energy expansion. As a result of investments in wind and solar energy, Alliant Energy will have the ability to provide cleaner energy for more than 600,000 Iowa homes.

Both Madison Gas and Electric and Alliant Energy say they support Governor Evers’ executive order setting a carbon-free
electricity goal for 2050. Annemarie Newman with Alliant Energy says the company is encouraged by the order. Alliant had previously set a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050. “The question now is, how can we do more sooner?”, she said. 

With the announcement happening so recently, those details are still being hammered out. Madison Gas and Electric already had a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. They say they welcomed the executive order. “We share the vision of a cleaner energy future and look forward to working with the Governor and state regulators to advance strategies to achieve MGE’s goal of net-zero carbon electricity by 2050.”

Wisconsin utility regulators granted final approval September 26th for a controversial power line while rebuffing conflict of interest charges from opponents of the nearly $500 million project. At a meeting interrupted by protesters, the Public Service
Commission voted unanimously to authorize construction of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek line between Dubuque and Middleton in a written order summarizing points the three commissioners agreed to during a hearing in August.

Alliant Energy has announced its earnings per share (EPS) for the three months ended June 30 as
follows:

                                                                                                    2019                                 2018
Utilities and Corporate Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$0.41
American Transmission Company (ATC) Holdings . . . . . . . . . . 0.03. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.03
Non-utility and Parent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0.01). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0.01)
Alliant Energy Consolidated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$0.43