Immediate
release
release
October 15, 2012
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Michael Vickerman
608.255.4044, ext. 2
State’s largest customer-owned renewable energy system breaks ground
in Dane County
in Dane County
(Madison) – Within a day after receiving the go-ahead from
the Springfield town board, heavy construction equipment broke
ground on Epic Systems’ Galactic Wind Farm, a six-turbine facility along U.S.
Highway 12 in western Dane County. The 10-
megawatt project should begin producing power by year’s end.
the Springfield town board, heavy construction equipment broke
ground on Epic Systems’ Galactic Wind Farm, a six-turbine facility along U.S.
Highway 12 in western Dane County. The 10-
megawatt project should begin producing power by year’s end.
Epic Systems’ project, the third customer-owned
windpower installation to go forward this year, will be larger than the
two-turbine Cashton Greens project in Monroe County and the two-turbine Waxdale project in Racine County. Organic Valley and Gundersen Lutheran completed their Cashton project earlier this
year, while S. C. Johnson is building its Waxdale project, which should be
operational in December of this year.
windpower installation to go forward this year, will be larger than the
two-turbine Cashton Greens project in Monroe County and the two-turbine Waxdale project in Racine County. Organic Valley and Gundersen Lutheran completed their Cashton project earlier this
year, while S. C. Johnson is building its Waxdale project, which should be
operational in December of this year.
“Epic’s project came together because of four
factors: a company committed to long-term sustainability, a spirit of
cooperation among town and county officials, strong local support, and a
favorable tax climate,” said Michael Vickerman, program and policy director for RENEW Wisconsin, a nonprofit
advocacy organization promoting renewable energy use in Wisconsin.
factors: a company committed to long-term sustainability, a spirit of
cooperation among town and county officials, strong local support, and a
favorable tax climate,” said Michael Vickerman, program and policy director for RENEW Wisconsin, a nonprofit
advocacy organization promoting renewable energy use in Wisconsin.
Epic also owns and operates Wisconsin’s largest solar electricity facility on its Verona campus, which it completed this summer.
The Springfield town board approved Epic’s project on a 5 to zero vote. No one at the board meeting expressed any
objections to the project.
objections to the project.
“I can easily foresee other sustainability-minded Wisconsin companies pursuing wind turbines to produce
electricity for their own operations, as long as Congress acts quickly to
extend the federal Production Tax Credit, which levels the playing field
between wind energy and fossil-fuel generation,” said Vickerman.
electricity for their own operations, as long as Congress acts quickly to
extend the federal Production Tax Credit, which levels the playing field
between wind energy and fossil-fuel generation,” said Vickerman.
END
RENEW Wisconsin is an independent, nonprofit
501(c)(3) that leads and represents businesses, and individuals who seek more clean,
renewable energy in Wisconsin. More information on RENEW’s Web site at
www.renewwisconsin.org.
501(c)(3) that leads and represents businesses, and individuals who seek more clean,
renewable energy in Wisconsin. More information on RENEW’s Web site at
www.renewwisconsin.org.