Dane County’s Yahara Solar project was recognized as part of RENEW Wisconsin’s 2023 Clean Energy Honor Roll at the 13th annual RENEW Energy Policy Summit, “Unleashing the Power of Wisconsin’s Clean Energy Potential,” on Feb. 1, according to a recent press release.
The 17 megawatt Yahara Solar project enabled Dane County facilities to offset their entire electricity use with local renewable generation. The county has become not only the first county government in the state to achieve 100% renewable electricity status, but just the fourth county in the nation to reach the 100% goal.
Key partners in the project include Alliant Energy, SunVest, and Pieper Power. Dedicated in April 2023, Yahara Solar will produce more than 36 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity per year — enough to power more than 3,000 Dane County homes.
Dane County had the goal of being 100% renewable offset by 2025. The county achieved the goal ahead of schedule, and County Executive Joe Parisi set a new goal that county facilities, fleet, and land operations be carbon neutral by 2030.
