Our Legacy of Victory
Public Service Commission Approval of Koshkonong Solar Energy Center
Upon its approval in 2022, Koshkonong Solar was the largest PSC-approved solar project in all of Wisconsin. The 300-megawatt (MW) utility-scale solar farm in Dane County also included 165 MW of battery storage. It now generates enough clean, reliable electricity to power more than 60,000 homes.
Clean Wisconsin submitted expert testimony in support of Koshkonong Solar, which played a key role in drawing new attention to the benefits solar farms can have on local waterways. Our analysis showed phosphorous runoff alone would be reduced by as much as 96% across the project site once row crops like corn and soybeans were replaced with solar panels and native grasslands. The same analysis suggests we should expect to see avoided phosphorous pollution runoff into nearby waterways of more than 100,000 pounds during the life of the project. The project is also expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 15 to 20 million tons over its life.
Why It Matters
Koshkonong Solar was part of a wave of utility-scale solar projects up for consideration after the state’s first utility-scale solar project went live in 2020. In the years since that project started operating, Koshkonong Solar and other projects have helped our state move away from fossil fuels and build momentum for a full transition to clean energy that will benefit our communities and climate for decades to come.
