MGE Expands Renewable Energy Portfolio with Investment in High Noon Solar Energy Center
In a significant step toward advancing clean energy in Wisconsin, Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) has received regulatory approval to invest in a major new solar and battery storage facility. Partnering with We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service (WPS)—both subsidiaries of the WEC Energy Group—MGE will acquire a portion of the upcoming High Noon Solar Energy Center located in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin recently granted approval for the utilities to proceed with the acquisition, which will see MGE owning 30 megawatts (MW) of solar generating capacity and 16.5 MW of battery energy storage from the facility. This initiative further strengthens MGE’s ongoing commitment to building a carbon-free energy future for its customers.
Powering Progress with Clean Energy
“The High Noon Solar Energy Center builds on the progress we’ve already made reducing carbon emissions, increasing our use of cost-effective renewable energy and advancing new technologies to benefit all our customers,” said Jeff Keebler, MGE Chairman, President and CEO. “By growing our use of cost-effective carbon-free generation to decarbonize our grid and by working with customers to advance energy efficiency and electrification, we can achieve our sustainable energy goals.”
Keebler’s statement reflects MGE’s broader strategy to transition to a clean, modern grid powered by renewable resources, while simultaneously helping customers become more energy efficient and adopt clean technologies such as electric vehicles.
Project Overview: High Noon Solar Energy Center
The High Noon Solar Energy Center is poised to become a flagship renewable energy facility in Wisconsin, boasting a total capacity of 300 MW of solar power alongside 165 MW of battery energy storage. Once operational, the facility is expected to generate enough clean, carbon-free electricity to power approximately 90,000 homes annually.
Under the terms of the approved agreement, MGE will own a 10% stake in the overall output of the project. That equates to 30 MW of solar generation and 16.5 MW of battery storage capacity—enough to provide electricity to around 9,000 households. The remaining capacity—270 MW of solar and 148.5 MW of storage—will be owned by We Energies and WPS.
The High Noon project is anticipated to begin serving customers by 2027. Once operational, it will become a cornerstone in MGE’s growing portfolio of renewable energy projects and a vital contributor to meeting long-term sustainability targets.
Strategic Milestone Toward Decarbonization
This latest investment aligns closely with MGE’s science-based environmental goals, including its ambitious target to reduce carbon emissions by at least 80% from 2005 levels by 2030 and to reach net-zero carbon electricity by 2050. These goals are consistent with the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which advocates for rapid and substantial reductions in carbon emissions to mitigate the most severe impacts of climate change.
MGE reports that it is already more than halfway to achieving its 2030 carbon reduction target. Projects like the High Noon Solar Energy Center are pivotal to maintaining that momentum, enabling the utility to replace fossil-fuel generation with clean, renewable alternatives while ensuring grid reliability and affordability for customers.
Why Battery Storage Matters
Incorporating battery energy storage alongside solar generation is a key feature of the High Noon Solar Energy Center. While solar arrays generate electricity during daylight hours, battery storage allows excess energy to be captured and used during times of peak demand or when sunlight isn’t available. This not only maximizes the value of solar energy but also enhances grid resilience and reliability.
For MGE and its partners, the addition of 165 MW of battery storage capacity represents a major leap forward in energy innovation. Energy storage systems are crucial for managing intermittency in renewable energy sources, helping to balance supply and demand, and paving the way for a more flexible, adaptive electric grid.
Advancing Cost-Effective, Carbon-Free Energy
One of MGE’s core strategic priorities is to transition to cleaner energy sources without compromising affordability or reliability for its customers. The utility emphasizes that renewable energy projects such as High Noon are not only environmentally responsible but also economically prudent.
Solar energy, in particular, has become one of the most cost-effective forms of electricity generation. By investing in large-scale solar installations like High Noon, MGE can take advantage of economies of scale, reducing the per-unit cost of electricity while delivering long-term savings and price stability for its customers.
Additionally, MGE’s ownership model for renewable projects means that customers benefit directly from the clean energy produced, helping the utility meet demand sustainably without reliance on fossil fuels that are subject to volatile global markets.
Partnership and Collaboration
The collaboration between MGE, We Energies, and WPS demonstrates the power of partnerships in accelerating the clean energy transition. By pooling resources and expertise, the utilities can undertake ambitious infrastructure projects that might be challenging to execute individually.
This type of joint investment also enables broader participation in the renewable energy economy, expanding the impact of clean energy development across Wisconsin and ensuring that multiple communities benefit from increased energy independence and environmental stewardship.
Building on a Growing Renewable Portfolio
The High Noon Solar Energy Center is the latest addition to MGE’s expanding clean energy portfolio. Over the past several years, the utility has developed or partnered in numerous solar projects across Wisconsin and beyond. Notable projects include:
- Badger Hollow Solar Farm – Located in Iowa County, Wisconsin, this project is one of the largest solar developments in the Midwest. MGE has ownership in two phases of the project, with a combined share of 100 MW of solar capacity.
- Springfield Solar – A 20-MW solar installation in Dane County, operational since 2021, which helps serve MGE’s commitment to providing renewable energy to its Green Power Tomorrow program participants.
- Darien Solar Energy Center – Another joint project with WEC Energy Group subsidiaries, expected to come online in the coming years and contribute significantly to MGE’s carbon reduction targets.
Each of these projects brings MGE closer to its long-term goal of a decarbonized energy future, while reinforcing Wisconsin’s role as a leader in renewable energy development.
Empowering Customers and Communities
MGE is also working directly with its customers to promote energy efficiency, demand response, and electrification. These initiatives are essential for ensuring that renewable energy adoption goes hand-in-hand with reduced energy consumption and increased system flexibility.
Through programs like Focus on Energy and partnerships with local governments, businesses, and nonprofits, MGE encourages the adoption of high-efficiency appliances, smart thermostats, and electric vehicles. The utility has also expanded its public charging network to support the growing number of EV drivers in its service area.
MGE’s approach to sustainability is both top-down and bottom-up: while investing in utility-scale projects like High Noon, the company also engages individuals and communities in taking actionable steps toward a cleaner future.
The approval of MGE’s investment in the High Noon Solar Energy Center marks another milestone in the utility’s journey toward a low-carbon future. As the project moves forward toward construction and eventual operation, it will play a central role in MGE’s ability to deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to its customers for decades to come.
By combining large-scale renewable energy development with customer-focused initiatives and innovative technologies, MGE is positioning itself as a leader in the energy transition—not only in Wisconsin but also as a model for other utilities nationwide.
