Earlier this year, Sun Prairie became the first municipality in Wisconsin to power all municipal operations with 100% renewable electricity, fulfilling a goal set in 2022, according to a post on the city website. City buildings — including city hall, the Sun Prairie Public Library, and the wastewater treatment plant — along with municipal infrastructure such as EV charging stations, traffic lights, and well pumps, now run entirely on clean energy.
The city sources its renewable electricity through a combination of in-house solar power and renewable energy blocks from WPPI Energy. Since 2018, Sun Prairie has installed three solar photovoltaic (PV) systems generating over 750 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean energy annually, with plans to expand total solar capacity to over 1.1 megawatts (MW) by 2026. Energy efficiency improvements, such as LED streetlights and HVAC upgrades, have further reduced consumption.
By offsetting remaining grid electricity with a mix of 46% solar, 45% wind, and 9% biogas, Sun Prairie has cut 5,358 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The city is now developing its first Climate Action Plan, setting new emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2050 to continue its sustainability progress.
For more information on Sun Prairie’s renewable energy initiatives, visit cityofsunprairie.com/1189/Sustainable-Sun-Prairie.
