Alliant Energy (NYSE:LNT) said July 18 that the Rock River solar project, which at 2.3 MW is Wisconsin’s largest such facility, recently went into service near Beloit, Wisconsin.
The sun-powered generating station includes over 7,700 solar panels, covers nearly 17 acres and produces enough electricity to power 500 homes, Alliant said in a news release.
The Rock River solar project is located on Alliant Energy’s property in the Town of Beloit, and it is sited on a landfill, a further environmental benefit. The company collaborated with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to enable the landfill site to be reused for the solar facility.
Alliant Energy signed a 10-year power purchase agreement with Hanwha Q CELLS USA, which owns and operates the project that includes an option to purchase the facility at the end of the contract.
“Investments in clean energy have been central to our plan for decades,” said Alliant Energy Chairman, President and CEO Patricia Kampling. “Solar is an important part of our future energy mix, and one of many ways we are following a path of sustainability and stewardship.”
Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, Alliant Energy provides regulated electric and natural gas service to 950,000 electric and 410,000 natural gas customers across Iowa and Wisconsin.
Interstate Power and Light (IPL) and Wisconsin Power and Light are Alliant Energy’s two public utility subsidiaries. WPL operates the Rock River natural gas power station in in Beloit. In addition, IPL is working on a couple of solar projects in Iowa.
