A utility-scale solar generation site near Thomson in Jo-Carroll Energy’s (JCE) service territory is now online and producing renewable energy.
The York Solar Site, a 1.5-megawatt solar energy array, is owned and operated by ENGIE North America. Dairyland Power Cooperative, Jo-Carroll Energy’s whole power provider, has a power purchase agreement with ENGIE for the full output of the facility. ENGIE installed, owns, operates and maintains the facility.
“The development of local renewable energy is an important step in charting a sustainable path for our cooperative membership,” said Mike Casper, JCE president and CEO.
The solar installation is engineered with a tracking system which follows the path of the sun to increase energy production. Beneficial bee and butterfly habitat is also being developed at the York solar energy site. ENGIE is using native seed mixes of grasses and flowers to create a certified pollinator garden.
The York Solar Site is one of 18 solar installations that Dairyland has under contract for the benefit of Jo-Carroll Energy and 23 other member cooperatives with Dairyland’s service territory in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois. Together, York Solar and the 17 other sites yield 25 MW of solar energy, producing enough renewable energy to power nearly 4,000 homes.