Finding solar solutions with local partners

Today, many individuals, corporations and communities have set goals to help reverse the effects of climate change.

Dane County, Wisconsin is a great example: They have created a plan to become carbon-neutral by 2050. Dane County currently offsets about 40% of their energy use to renewable energy, thanks to the 9-megawatt (MW) Dane County Airport Solar project, which came online in 2020. In 2019, the county also began operating a renewable natural gas (RNG) facility at the Dane County Landfill, where landfill biogas is converted into pipeline quality natural gas.

These are just a few of Dane County’s initiatives to operate sustainably and promote cleaner energy as they work toward achieving their renewable energy goal, not only for the county’s operations, but for all residents and businesses.

They identified additional initiatives to achieve 100%, including a partnership with Alliant Energy to build a 17.5-MW solar farm now known as the Yahara Solar Project in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. The first panels were installed last fall, and the project is slated to be completed this spring. When the Yahara Solar Project is operational, Dane County will have successfully reached its goal of using renewable energy to power all county buildings.

“Partnering with Alliant Energy on our largest solar project yet results in Dane County achieving our goal of 100% renewable electricity,” said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi. “This major accomplishment benefits both the environment and our economy, creating local clean energy jobs and helping combat climate change.”

How you can get involved

We have a number of programs available to help customers of all sizes increase their renewable energy options, including Alliant Energy® Customer-Hosted Renewables, Alliant Energy® Renewable Energy Partner and Alliant Energy® Community Solar. While the impact of each program varies for business and residential customers, they all benefit from clean energy.

In addition to the programs outlined above, Alliant Energy has vowed to build nearly 1,500 MW of solar energy while maintaining our status as the third-largest owner and operator of regulated wind power in the United States. This means all customers are receiving cleaner energy each year. In fact, by 2030 more than 50% of our power generation is expected to come from renewable sources.

Check out our Clean Energy Blueprint for more information on how we’re working to make the grid cleaner for all.

If you want to advance any personal or corporate clean energy goals, please contact your account manager or visit alliantenergy.com/sellmypower.