Press Release

Solar*Connect Community solar garden in Eau Claire is now generating clean power

Construction is complete and the Eau Claire Solar* Connect Community one-megawatt solar garden is now generating clean, renewable energy for its subscribers.

Xcel Energy, along with solar-developer Pristine Sun, the city of Eau Claire who owns the seven-acre property, and subscribers celebrated its completion at a ribbon-cutting today. More than 3,000 solar panels sit atop an abandoned landfill near the company’s Wisconsin headquarters on West Hamilton Avenue in the Sky Park Industrial Park.

“This is an exciting day for Xcel Energy and our solar subscribers,” said Mark Stoering, president, Xcel Energy-Wisconsin. “We have a long history of renewable energy in Wisconsin, tracing our roots back to 1872 with some of the state’s first hydro facilities. Now, we can add the first of our Solar*Connect Community projects to the list.”

UW-Eau Claire was one of the early subscribers to the solar garden, and Chancellor James Schmidt today gave kudos to the students who have chosen to become leaders in sustainability. “Our students are proactive and want to help build a world they want to live in,” Schmidt said. “By partnering with Xcel Energy, we can continue on our journey toward a campus that leaves a zero carbon footprint.”

Xcel Energy announced at the event that a solar developer and location for the greater La Crosse area garden has been selected and they are evaluating the possibility of a third one-megawatt solar garden in northern Wisconsin. All three projects, when completed, will make Solar*Connect Community Wisconsin’s largest community solar garden program.

The solar program is being offered to business and residential customers on a first-come, first-served basis. Currently, the program is about 90 percent subscribed. Electricity generated at the solar garden will go onto the local power grid operated by Xcel Energy.

For more information, visit xcelenergy.com/SolarConnectCommunity.