WP&L Six Solar Projects | PSC Docket: 6680-CE-182

• Overview: Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WP&L), filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (Commission) for a Certificate of Authority (CA) to construct three solar energy generation facilities, and an application for approval of affiliated interest agreements for three solar energy generation facilities that are seeking Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the Commission. In total, WP&L is seeking authority to acquire, construct, own, and operate 675 Megawatts (MW) of new solar energy generation facilities. The three sub-100 MW solar facilities that require a CA from the Commission are North Rock Solar (NRS) and Richland County Solar (RCS), both proposed at 50 MW, and Crawfish River Solar (CRS), proposed at 75 MW. The three solar projects that are subject to CPCN requirements and their respective CPCN docket numbers are Wood County Solar (9803-CE-100), Grant County Solar (9804-CE-100), and Onion River Solar (9805-CE-100).

• Applicant stated need: WP&L states in the application that it conducted an analysis that shows there would be benefits to its customers if it increased its renewable energy generation and retired certain of its coal generation facilities. The application states that these projects are part of a larger program that would save customers money over the next 35 years compared to maintaining its current generation fleet.

• Estimated cost: WP&L states that the estimated cost to acquire, construct, install, and place in operation the six proposed solar projects in this docket is approximately $887 million, calculated without Allowance for Funds Used During Construction (AFUDC). This project cost includes an estimated $862 million in construction costs and an estimated $25 million in land purchase costs. Because WP&L intends to finance approximately 35 to 45 percent of the project's estimated construction costs with capital from a tax equity partner, WP&L requests authorization to include in rate base up to $585 million, plus AFUDC, subject to Commission review and audit in a future rate case proceeding.

• Project Location: Crawfish River Solar project, located in the Town of Jefferson, just west of the City of Jefferson in Jefferson County. North Rock County Solar project, located in the Town of Fulton, southwest of the City of Edgerton, in Rock County. Richland County Solar project, located in the Town of Buena Vista, near the Village of Lone Rock, in Richland County (see map).

• Proposed schedule: WP&L states for each of the solar CA projects that a site-specific construction specification and schedule would be developed but is not yet available. Dependent on regulatory schedules and approvals, the project schedule for CRS and RCS would tentatively have construction starting in summer of 2021. The construction schedule for NRS tentatively has construction starting in summer of 2022. Each of the CA projects is expected to take between 12 to 18 months to construct. The estimated project schedule would have the CRS and RCS projects placed in service in November of 2022, with NRS placed in service in November of 2023.

As documents become available, hyperlinks will be added. Additionally, you can view all documents filed in this docket on the Commission's Case Management System (CMS) page

• Application for CA (August 2020)
  • Crawfish River Environmental Appendix
  • North Rock County Environmental Appendix
  • Richland County Environmental Appendix

Environmental Assessment Scoping Period, schedule to be announced soon. There will be public hearings where written or spoken comments would be accepted into the record for the project, dates to be confirmed.

For more information on becoming involved in the Commission review of construction cases, please visit our public participation page, or call one of the Project contacts listed below.

• Interactive Web Map of Project (external link)
• Overview maps for each of the three proposed locations (.pdf)

• An Environmental Assessment (EA) will be done for the three solar projects less than 100 MW in this docket. For the three solar projects subject to CPCN requirements, EAs are being conducted in their relevant dockets. This docket seeks: A Certificate of Authority to own, operate, and construct the Solar Projects and to purchase the land for the Crawfish River, Onion River, Richland County, and Wood County projects at the cost, and with the accounting measures, described in this Application under Wis. Stat. § 196.49. Approval under Wis. Stat. §§ 196.52 and 196.795(5)(s) for WPL to transfer an indirect ownership stake in the Solar Projects to a tax equity partner. Approval under Wis. Stat. §§ 196.52 and 196.795(5)(r) for WPL to enter into affiliated interest agreements related to the ownership and operation of the Solar Projects through a tax equity partnership.

• Dan Grant, PSC Docket Coordinator: 608 267-1473, email: Daniel.Grant@wisconsin.gov

• Adam Ingwell, PSC Environmental Review Coordinator: 608 267-9197, email: Adam.Ingwell@wisconsin.gov