Wisconsin utility to expand community PV scheme with 5MW array

Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) will add a large-scale project to its community PV scheme after the 500kW maiden installation became fully subscribed. The investor-owned utility filed an application this week with Wisconsins Public Service Commission to expand its Shared Solar Programme with a 5MW array in Middleton, a city some 100 miles west from Milwaukee. Construction at a site by the Middleton Municipal Airport is scheduled to start this summer, under a partnership with the city authorities. Once the array is up and running, households and businesses will be offered a chance to source half their annual power use from the facility. For their part, two larger consumers a neighbouring area school district and Middleton itself have signed renewable energy riders to receive 1MW and 0.5MW of the total 5MW.