Sierra Club Statement on We Energies & MGE 150 MW Wisconsin Solar Acquisition

MADISON, WI --  Today We Energies, a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, and Madison Gas & Electric (MGE) announced an expansion of their solar partnership with a proposal to acquire an additional 150 megawatts (MW) of the Badger Hollow Solar Farm, near Dodgeville, WI. Sierra Club intervened at the Public Service Commission in support of the utilities when they sought approval to acquire the initial 150 MW of Badger Hollow earlier this year.

In response, Sierra Club Wisconsin’s Program Coordinator, Elizabeth Ward released the following statement:

“It’s exciting to see Wisconsin utilities expanding investment in affordable, homegrown, clean and renewable energy. Wisconsin is playing catch up when it comes to renewables, and we applaud We Energies and MGE for getting in the game. Whether through local cities making commitments to 100% clean energy, communities calling on their utilities to move off coal, or our Governor setting a vision of a carbon-free Wisconsin, the will of Wisconsin is clear: the time is now for moving from dirty, expensive, climate-disrupting fossil fuels to a state that runs on renewable energy. 

And while we applaud We Energies and MGE for increasing investments in solar power, we renew our call for both utilities to make a commitment and an actionable plan to retire polluting and uneconomic coal plants. The future is clear and it is clean, and we need our utilities to act with urgency. The health of our communities, our environment, and our economy depend on it.”