How Does Your Solar Garden Grow?

Xcel’s sun-powered project ready to rise in Eau Claire

Tom Giffey

This aerial image shows the future site of Xcel’s  Solar*Connect project. The yellow lines represent solar arrays.
This aerial image shows the future site of Xcel’s Solar*Connect project. The yellow lines represent solar arrays.

During the latter half of summer, gardens across the state flourish, and the solar garden being built across from Xcel Energy’s Wisconsin headquarters in Eau Claire will be no exception.

This is no typical garden plot, of course: Instead of zinnias and zucchini, more than 3,000 solar panels will be popping up along West Hamilton Avenue. The first Solar*Connect Community project in Wisconsin will produce 1 megawatt of electricity for Xcel customers who have subscribed to a special program.

This is no typical garden plot, of course: Instead of zinnias and zucchini, more than 3,000 solar panels will be popping up along West Hamilton Avenue. The first Solar*Connect Community project in Wisconsin will produce 1 megawatt of electricity for Xcel customers who have subscribed to a special program.

A ceremonial groundbreaking on the 7.5-acre site was held last fall, and this summer crews have started preparing the site for construction, said Xcel spokeswoman Chris Ouellette. Solar panels are expected to be delivered by the end of July, and construction of the garden will begin shortly thereafter, she added. If all goes as planned, 3,225 solar panels – each of the 3 feet by 6 feet – will begin generating electricity by this fall.

The City of Eau Claire had been exploring building a solar facility on the property for a few years, even before Xcel created its community solar garden program, Ouellette said. The city has leased the site to San Francisco-based solar developer Pristine Sun. As it happens, the property is close to Xcel’s infrastructure, allowing for the newly generated power to be pumped into the electrical grid efficiently.

“The city has been a great partner in the community solar program, and we are excited to see the solar garden going in across the street,” Ouellette said.

Xcel customers who are interested in the program can still subscribe on a first-come, first-served basis, and 250 kilowatts are still available. The minimum subscription is 200 watts for $356, or $1,780 per kilowatt. After that upfront investment, subscribers will receive a bill credit for the solar energy for the next 25 years.

A similar Solar*Connect project is underway in La Crosse, and Xcel is considering other renewable energy projects elsewhere in the state, although Ouellette added that “we don’t know what that looks like just yet.”

Solar*Connect is one part of Xcel’s strategy to reduce its carbon emissions. “We have a plan to transform our energy system away from coal to clean energy sources,” such as solar, wind, and natural gas, Ouellette said. Overall, the goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 60 percent and to have a 63 percent carbon-free energy mix by 2030, she said.

If you’re an Xcel customer who is interested in becoming part of the Solar*Connect Community, visit xcelenergy.com/solarconnectcommunity or call (800) 824-1688.

Go Green is sponsored by:

Xcel Energy
Eau Claire

Go Green is sponsored by:

Xcel Energy
Eau Claire