May 9, 2007
Wisconsin

PSC approves wind farm in Fond du Lac County

Today, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) approved construction of Alliant Energy’s Cedar Ridge Wind Farm in Fond du Lac County. Approval of this wind project takes Wisconsin another step closer to meeting the state’s goal of producing 25% of our energy from renewable energy sources by the year 2025.

“This project is consistent with the state’s commitment to rely more on renewable energy resources and fighting the effects of global warming,” said Chairperson Dan Ebert. “Wisconsin has faced these public policy challenges and is leading the nation in efforts to be energy independent.”

In a decision today, the Commission approved Alliant Energy’s request to build 41 wind turbines within a 7,800 acre project area in the towns of Eden and Empire in Fond du Lac County. The total capacity of the project is approximately 98 megawatts ““ enough to supply power for approximately 30,000 residential customers.

“This project is another step to significantly and positively impacting our environment,” said Commissioner Mark Meyer. “The state currently has 53 megawatts of wind energy in ground and 345 megawatts approved for construction. With today’s decision, it brings the state’s total wind generation to about 450 megawatts. This is a substantial step to meeting the goals outlined in the state’s energy efficiency and renewables legislation.”

Last year, Governor Doyle signed Act 141 into law, a bipartisan effort to increase energy efficiency and renewables in Wisconsin. The law calls for the state’s utilities to produce 10 percent of Wisconsin’s electricity from renewables by 2015, encourages government agencies to improve energy efficiency, and strengthens the state’s energy efficiency programs. The Governor later launched Wisconsin’s “Declaration of Energy Independence” which set goals to produce 25% of the state’s energy by the year 2025, reduce the use of fossil fuels and to become a national leader in alternative energy research.

To follow through with these goals, last month, the Governor announced the creation of an Office of Energy Independence and a Task Force on Global Warming, accepted leadership position with the Regional Summit of Midwest Governors and launched the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System. For more information about these continued efforts, please see the Governor’s website at http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/.

The Commission will issue a final order based on today’s discussion. Documents associated with the Cedar Ridge Wind Farm can be viewed on the PSC’s Electronic Regulatory Filing System at http://psc.wi.gov/. Type case numbers 6680-CE-171 in the boxes provided on the PSC homepage, or click on the Electronic Regulatory Filing System button.

wisbusiness.com

9 May 2007


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/05/09/psc-approves-wind-farm-in-fond-du-lac-county/