Wisconsin Public Service (WPS – a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group) is disassembling 20- year old wind turbines in the town of Lincoln in Kewaunee County that have reached the end of their useful lives. Turbine technology has improved dramatically since 1999 and, with the 75% decrease in the price of solar in the last 7 years, WPS is investing in more cost-effective renewable energy systems. As reported in May/June Energy On WI News, WPS will invest in 200 MW of generating capacity from two solar projects being developed, Two Creeks in Manitowoc County by NextEra Energy and Badger Hollow in Iowa County by Invenergy.
Also in the region, WPPI doubled its wind power beginning in July through a power purchase agreement with Invenergy for the Bishop Hill III Wind Energy Center in Henry County, IL. WPPI Energy also entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement with NextEra Resources to buy electricity from a 100 MW solar field it is building on its Point Beach nuclear plant property in Two Rivers, Manitowoc County by 2021. WPPI’s member utilities in Kewaunee County will be able to provide renewable energy from both the wind and solar projects to its customers.