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Xcel Energy has received approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to move forward with the Western Wisconsin Transmission Connection (WWTC) project. The new 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line is a key step to delivering continued electric reliability and connecting Wisconsin’s electric grid to a growing network of low-cost renewable energy across the Upper Midwest.

“The WWTC project represents a critical investment in Wisconsin’s energy future,” according to Karl Hoesly, President, Xcel Energy – Wisconsin and Michigan. “It reflects years of collaboration with communities and regulators to ensure a stronger, more resilient grid that can serve customers reliably for decades to come.”

Once complete, the WWTC project will enhance Xcel Energy’s Wisconsin transmission network and support ongoing grid improvements across the Upper Midwest, ensuring customers continue to receive reliable, low-cost power as demand grows. The roughly 80-mile transmission line will connect new and existing substations, beginning near Blair in Trempealeau County, connecting to a substation near Eau Claire, and linking to an existing 345-kV line near Owen in Clark County.

Once complete, the WWTC will provide a strong connection to Wisconsin’s 345-kV transmission network, helping enhance the reliability, efficiency and delivery of energy to customers in the region.

WWTC also represents one segment of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s (MISO) Tranche 1 portfolio — a series of transmission projects designed to expand access to renewable energy and improve reliability across the Midwest. WWTC will interconnect with new and existing transmission lines under development in southern Minnesota, western Wisconsin and central Wisconsin, further strengthening the regional grid and advancing the transition to a cleaner energy future.

Alliant Energy’s first 100-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) is now operational in southwest Wisconsin. The battery captures and stores excess energy generated by solar and other resources, releasing the energy to the grid when needed. It sits next to Alliant’s 200-MW solar project in Grant County. 

“Energy storage systems, like this one, complement our existing generation resources and serve as an incredibly important step toward creating a more intelligent and resilient grid,” David de Leon, president of Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin energy company, said in a statement. “The combination of BESS and solar is a critical part of our balanced energy portfolio. Collectively, they offer enormous potential, adding value and flexibility, while ensuring the availability of reliable and cost-effective energy for our customers.”

The battery system can power over 100,000 homes for up to four hours on a single charge. Expanding into battery storage is part of Alliant Energy’s Energy Blueprint, a roadmap for advancing and balancing energy options

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has finally approved energy company Enbridge’s plans to reroute an aging oil pipeline around a northern Wisconsin tribal reservation.

Enbridge plans to build a new 41-mile (66-kilometer) pipeline segment around the reservation of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. The tribe and environmentalists had wanted the pipeline off reservation land, but the Army Corps of Engineers has now approved the separate federal permit.

The application window for the Prairie du Sac Dam Aquatic Resources Enhancement Fund opened November 1, 2025, and runs through January 31, 2026. 

This grant program supports initiatives to enhance the ecological health and biodiversity of the Wisconsin River and surrounding aquatic ecosystems. As part of its commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement, Alliant Energy invites eligible organizations to apply for grants to enhance the sustainable preservation of this vital natural resource.

“The Prairie du Sac Hydroelectric Dam plays a significant role in flood control, managing water levels and supporting nearby recreational activities,” said Jake Hebl, manager of renewable assets at Alliant Energy. “We are proud to be an Aquatic Resources Enhancement Fund partner and promoting environmental stewardship.”

Several solar energy projects across Wisconsin are facing community pushback, including two large projects being opposed by local governments. Town officials in northeast and central Wisconsin communities have come out against two utility-scale solar projects proposed in their communities. And village officials in south central Wisconsin delayed a vote on a small solar project after an hours-long public hearing.

The debate comes as a bill in the state Legislature would require local governments sign off on major solar or wind projects in their communities before state regulators.

Two of the big projects facing pushback include Fox Solar Project in the town of Morgan in Oconto County, and the Akron Solar Project in the town of Rome in Adams County and the town of Saratoga in Wood County. Both are being developed by Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources and require state approval but not local approval.

The Fox Solar Project would generate 100 megawatts, while the Akron Solar Project would generate 200 megawatts. For context, 100 megawatts of solar energy can power around 15,332 homes in Wisconsin.

A $1.4 billion transmission line project is being proposed to help support a planned data center development in Port Washington. American Transmission Company wants to build new transmission lines, rebuild existing lines, and build new substations across several counties, according to a recent application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. The project would help meet the energy demand for a data center development in Port Washington.

“The Project is needed to reliably serve a load interconnection request by We Energies to serve a new large load addition in the Port Washington area,” the application said.

The four data center buildings are expected to need 1.3 gigawatts of electricity.  The developer behind the project is Vantage Data Centers.

Alliant Energy and QTS Data Centers (“QTS”) have announced an agreement in principle to expand renewable energy resources across Wisconsin, lowering the cost for Alliant Energy’s planned renewable facilities. This proposed agreement will be facilitated by the sale of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from approximately 750 megawatts of new renewable energy sources, which will help meet the growing energy needs of Wisconsin and support sustainable growth across the state, all while providing long-term benefits for Alliant Energy customers. 

“As an essential service provider in communities across Wisconsin, we take great pride in meeting customers’ energy needs as cost-effectively as possible,” said Raja Sundararajan, Executive Vice President Strategy and Customer Solutions, Alliant Energy. “Based on projections and identified trends, adding a mix of energy generation to our balanced portfolio, including wind, natural gas and energy storage, will serve increasing customer energy demands and ensure reliability.”

The partnership supports the addition of new renewable energy necessary for economic development across Wisconsin and enables Alliant Energy to lower costs of planned renewable facilities, bringing benefits to customers. 

To meet expected surges in energy demand from data centers, We Energies is asking state regulators to approve a multi-billion-dollar plan to add almost 3 gigawatts of power to the electric grid.

The utility plans to build and take ownership stakes in seven planned solar projects and one battery project. It also wants to do the same with two new natural gas power plants, as well as to make upgrades to existing power facilities.

Those plans need to be approved by the state Public Service Commission. We Energies says the renewable projects will send energy to the grid every day while the natural gas plants will be used primarily during peak demand times.

A $700 million natural gas pipeline enhancement project designed to improve reliability and meet rising demand came online in Wisconsin and northern Illinois at the start of the month.

TC Energy, a Canadian company with a U.S. headquarters in Texas, announced the completion of the project last month. 

The “Wisconsin Reliability Project” replaced about 51 miles of aging pipeline across Wisconsin and northern Illinois with modern infrastructure. The company said the change would improve safety and reliability.

TC Energy also upgraded natural gas compression facilities in Kewaskum and Weyauwega, as well as meter stations in Lena, Merrill, Oshkosh, South Wausau, Stevens Point, and Two Rivers. The company received approvals from federal regulators for the project in 2023 and 2024. Construction began last year, and the project came into service on November 1.

Xcel Energy plans to build the Midwest’s largest battery energy storage site at the Sherco Energy Hub in central Minnesota. The project is among a series of investments that will strengthen the region’s energy security and expand the company’s investment at Sherco and beyond.

“We’re making a significant investment in battery storage because we see it as a critical part of Minnesota’s energy future,” according to Bria Shea, President of Xcel Energy-Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. “Batteries help us store energy when it’s inexpensive to produce and dispatch it when needed, allowing us to continue delivering reliable electricity to customers while keeping bills low.”

The proposal, filed with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, will:

• Double the amount of battery storage adjacent to the Sherco coal plant in Becker, which is scheduled to retire by the end of 2030. The Commission previously approved 300 megawatts of storage. The new proposal increases the capacity to 600 megawatts.
• Add 135.5 megawatts of battery storage at the company’s Blue Lake facility in Shakopee.
• Expand the company’s Sherco Solar facility with an additional 200-megawatt solar array in Clear Lake Township.

If approved, the company intends to start construction on the battery storage projects in 2026, with the batteries serving customers by late 2027. The projects will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell technology, which has a strong track record for reliability and safety. LFP batteries discharge energy in four-hour increments and are quick to recharge, allowing for regular use.