Alliant Energy is set to build a 5-MW solar project across 32 acres in eastern Fon du Lac County, Wisconsin, that will advance sustainability initiatives for Mercury Marine, a motor vehicle engine manufacturer.
“This solar project is good for Mercury, the Fond du Lac community and the environment,” said Chris Drees, president of Mercury Marine. “Our investment in this solar infrastructure, combined with our other solar investments, will provide clean, renewable energy and propel us toward our goal to derive 50% of our electricity usage from renewable sources by the end of 2030.”
The Ledgeview Solar Project, pending review and approval by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in the coming months, will offset 10% of the electricity Mercury uses on its Fond du Lac campus.
The project will include more than 12,000 solar panels that will generate enough electricity to power approximately 1,300 homes annually. Construction on the project is anticipated to start in spring 2023 with operation expected in October 2023. The project is being developed and constructed by OneEnergy Renewables from its regional office in Madison.
In January 2021, Mercury completed a rooftop array of 320 solar panels at its Fond du Lac world headquarters. The array was Mercury’s first in the United States and generates enough power to light a warehouse operation on the Fond du Lac campus for the next 30 years.
Ledgeview is the first project to be developed under Alliant Energy’s Renewable Energy Partner program, which aims to help commercial and industrial customers achieve their sustainability goals.
“Alliant Energy is proud to assist Mercury Marine as it undertakes this transformative clean energy initiative,” said Barbara Tormaschy, senior VP of sustainability and regulatory strategy for Alliant Energy. “The Renewable Energy Partner program ensures our commercial customers can offset their energy use with safe, reliable and clean electricity for decades to come.”
News item from Alliant Energy
