WEC has new solar and battery plans
Second project of its kind could power 75K homes
WEC Energy Group, the parent company of We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service, has announced plans for a $446 million solar and batterystorage project in Rock and Walworth counties.
The project is the second of its kind announced by the company this year.
It would consist of 250 megawatts of solar power — enough electricity for 75,000 homes — and 75 megawatts of battery storage.
We Energies and WPS would own 90% of the project and Madison Gas and Electric would own 10%.
The project, which must be approved by the Public Service Commission, would be developed by Invenergy and then sold to the utilities. If approved, construction is expected to begin late this year and to be completed by the end of 2023.
The battery storage project will be designed to supply 75 megawatts of electricity for roughly four hours when fully charged.
The utilities plan to charge and discharge the batteries almost every day, said Brendan Conway, a spokesman for WEC Energy.
Last month, WEC Energy Group proposed a $400 million solar power and battery-storage project in Kenosha County. Madison Gas and Electric also would have a 10% stake in the project.
It would include 200 megawatts of solar generation — enough to provide electricity for 60,000 homes — and 110 megawatts of battery storage.
Invenergy also would develop the project in Kenosha County.
The cost of battery storage has fallen by 89%, after adjusting for inflation, since 2020, according to BloombergNEF’s annual survey on battery prices. The cost fell 13% last year and is expected to drop even more this year.
The decline in the cost of solar power and battery storage, combined with federal tax incentives, make the projects