We Energies had filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) for authorization to build the Glacier Hills Wind Park. The proposed wind park would be located in the towns of Randolph and Scott in northeast Columbia County – approximately 45 miles northeast of Madison.
Current plans call for the project to consist of up to 90 wind turbines that would generate as much as 207 megawatts of electricity – enough capacity to power approximately 45,000 homes. The cost of the project is expected to be in the range of $340 million to $530 million depending, in part, on the size of the turbines selected.
"The Glacier Hills Wind Park is an important step toward meeting our renewable energy goals and will clearly help Wisconsin reduce its carbon footprint," said Andy Hesselbach, wind project manager.
The PSCW review is expected to take from six months to a year. Because the actual construction and commercial operation dates are dependent on approval from the PSCW and the availability of turbine equipment, the first full year of commercial operation is expected to be 2012.
We Energies completed a similar project on time and on budget earlier this year with the commissioning of the 88-turbine Blue Sky Green Field Wind Energy Center in Fond du Lac County.
"We’re making the same commitment to sound project management and communication that served our customers so well during the successful building of the Blue Sky Green Field site," said Hesselbach.
To learn more about the Glacier Hills Wind Park and We Energies,
please visit www.we-energies.com/environmental/winddev.htm