Rock County and Alliant Energy establish partnership, plans for two solar projects
In a press release today, Rock County and Alliant Energy have announced their partnership on two solar projects to be established on a nearly 22-acre site. The plan includes constructing a 2.25-megawatt (MW) community solar garden alongside a 1.4-MW customer-hosted project in Janesville.
The proposed project will mark Alliant Energy’s second community solar garden in Wisconsin and third overall; it came as a response to customer requests for additional access to renewable energy.
The solar garden will be located east of the Rock Haven Assisted Living facility on county-owned property. At maximum output, the community solar garden could power up to 1,800 homes annually. The project is part of the Alliant Energy Community Solar program, which allows the company’s electric customers to benefit from solar power without installing solar panels on their property.
Rock County has also entered into a lease agreement with Alliant Energy to develop an Alliant Energy Customer-Hosted Renewables solar project on 10 acres adjacent to the Janesville Community Solar Garden. The project is part of the Alliant Energy Customer-Hosted Renewables program, which enables customers with available land to host solar facilities, receive lease payments, and get renewable energy credits.
Alliant Energy will design, construct, own, operate, and maintain both solar projects. Construction will begin this fall, with estimated completion by the end of 2024. The timeline is contingent on design, permitting, and equipment availability.
