Dane County has begun exploring the development of what would be the second biggest solar project in the state of Wisconsin.
County Executive Joe Parisi announced Thursday he has requested the Dane County Regional Airport enter into an agreement with a firm to seek partners and evaluate developing 30 acres of airport owned land into a large scale solar field.
The project would have the ability to generate over 6 megawatts of power, almost three times more than the largest solar project currently operating in the region, a 2.25 megawatt facility in Beloit.
"This project is a big deal for Dane County," said the Sierra Club's Elizabeth Katt Reinders. "It means clean energy for the residents, it means local jobs as this project gets designed, built, and maintained. It's a win for Dane County."
The Dane County Regional Airport is the latest in the expansion of solar power for county government initiated by Parisi’s 2017 budget. He included over $2 million in the 2017 budget for solar generating capacity at the Alliant Energy Center and the Dane County Job Center.
The new solar projects are projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 777 tons, reducing direct energy costs by over $2.1 million over the next two decades.
For more info go to WKOW: http://www.wkow.com/story/35205072/2017/04/20/dane-county-regional-airport-eyed-for-new-solar-development