EDF Renewables North America Announces the Commercial Operation of the O’Brien Solar Fields

SAN DIEGO (June 9, 2021): EDF Renewables North America (EDFR) today announced the commercial operation of the O’Brien Solar Fields delivering 20 megawatts (MW) of clean energy to Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) and its customers participating in the innovative Renewable Energy Rider (RER) program. RERs enable MGE to partner with a large energy user to tailor a renewable energy solution to meet that customer’s energy needs. 

The clean energy will be delivered to the following participating RER customers: City of Fitchburg, Placon, Promega Corporation, Tribe 9 Foods, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Willy Street Co-op and Wisconsin Department of Administration.  

Located in Dane County in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, the solar facility spans approximately 160 acres and consists of about 60,000 bifacial solar panels which produce energy from both sides of the panels as they track the sun east to west during the day. EDF Renewables’ Distributed Solutions Group designed, developed and built the project; MGE owns the solar array and leases the land from the O’Brien family.  Pollinator plantings are underway in certain areas of the array under the solar panels to boost pollinator habitat for dwindling monarch and honey-bee populations. 

“EDF Renewables is pleased to work in collaboration with MGE to bring this project to completion during unique pandemic challenges on the construction process,”  said Jamie Resor, CEO EDF Renewables Distributed Solutions.  “Our focus on utility partnerships is exemplified by the MGE relationship, and we look forward to strengthening our relationship in the years to come as we operate and maintain the project. MGE is leading the way in providing renewable options to their customers and we are proud to be part of the solution.”   

In May 2019, MGE announced its goal of net-zero carbon electricity by 2050, making it one of the first utilities in the nation to commit to net-zero carbon by mid-century. MGE expects to achieve carbon reductions of at least 65% by 2030.  

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