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A new partnership has given Fareway Stores access to the benefits of solar power as Alliant Energy placed the one-megawatt Fareway Solar Field into service. The project consists of nearly 2,000 solar panels at the grocery chain's distribution center in the Boone Iowa Industrial Park.

The energy company will own, operate and maintain the Fareway Solar Field as part of the Alliant Energy Customer-Hosted Renewables program. The site will generate renewable energy for all Alliant Energy customers and renewable energy credits for Fareway to offset a portion of its carbon emissions.

“This project is a terrific addition to our distribution center campus here in Boone,” according to  Pat Goldsmith, Fareway’s Vice President of Facilities and Projects. “Partnering with Alliant Energy on the production of clean energy for years into the future is a great extension of our company legacy.”

At WEC Energy Group's annual meeting of stockholders, Gale Klappa, Executive Chairman, and Scott Lauber, President and CEO, highlighted another strong year on virtually every meaningful measure — from customer satisfaction, to financial performance, to steady execution of the company's capital plan. They also emphasized that it was a year of growth and dedication to the company's mission of delivering affordable, reliable and clean energy to millions of customers across the Midwest.

Company highlights

Developed the largest five-year capital plan in company history — including nearly 3,800 megawatts of new renewable capacity to serve the customers of We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service.

Completed the largest solar project in Wisconsin history as the final panels at the Badger Hollow Solar Park in southwestern Wisconsin went in service at the end of 2023.

Brought 128 megawatts of new highly efficient and flexible natural gas generation online.

Completed the construction of two liquefied natural gas facilities to support the company's power generation and gas distribution systems.

Introduced renewable natural gas (RNG) into the company's distribution network. The RNG replaces a portion of the conventional natural gas that would have entered the system. This effort contributes to WEC Energy Group's methane reduction goal and benefits the land and water of America's heartland.

Spent a record $333.7 million with certified minority-, women-, veteran- and service-disabled-owned businesses.

Returned a record $984 million to WEC Energy Group stockholders through dividends.

Increased the dividend level in January 2024 by 7% to an annual rate of $3.34 per share. This marks the 21^st consecutive year of higher dividends.

In 2024, selected by Standard and Poor's for inclusion in the High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index.

Also in 2024, selected by Standard and Poor's for inclusion in the High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index.

Xcel Energy has reduced carbon emissions fifty-four percent from the electricity it provides to customers from 2005 levels, the company announced in its 19th annual Sustainability Report.

Xcel Energy was the first U.S. energy provider to set aggressive goals to reduce carbon emissions from electricity, heating and transportation. The company’s 2018 goal aims to provide customers with 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2050 and reduce carbon emissions from its operations eighty percent from 2005 levels by 2030. The report shows carbon-free energy made up fifty percent of the company’s 2023 energy mix, compared to an average of forty-one percent nationwide. Over the same time span, the company cut air emissions of sulfur dioxide from its power plants by eighty-three percent and nitrogen oxides by eighty-five percent.

“Xcel Energy remains at the forefront of the clean energy transition,” said Bob Frenzel, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Xcel Energy. “Our progress in this historic transition thus far is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our employees to innovate and deliver on strategies and approaches that drive clean energy solutions.”

We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service — both owned by WEC Energy Group — have filed applications with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to increase electric and gas rates in 2025 and 2026.

We Energies hopes to increase electric rates by 6.9 percent in 2025 and 4.6 percent in 2026, according to the utility’s application with the PSC. It also requested increases for both of the gas utilities it owns. One of the gas utilities would increase rates by 10 percent next year and 5.1 percent by 2026. The other asked to increase rates by 8.2 percent in 2025 and 3.6 percent in 2026. We Energies’ steam utility in downtown Milwaukee also asked for an 8.4 percent rate hike in 2025 but no increase in 2026.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin Public Service is requesting an 8.5 percent electric rate increase in 2025 and a 4.9 percent increase in 2026, according to the utility’s application. WPS also requested gas rate increases of 6.8 percent next year and 3.9 percent in 2026.

The rate increases need approval from the Wisconsin public Service Commission after review and potential modification.

Xcel Energy, Central Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, Great River Energy, Missouri River Energy Services and Otter Tail Power Company will upgrade nearly 100 miles of transmission line in Minnesota and eastern South Dakota, allowing the companies and other energy providers to deliver more low-cost renewable energy to customers throughout the Upper Midwest while saving customers millions of dollars a year.

This week, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the installation of a second high-voltage circuit on two segments of the existing Brookings County-Hampton transmission line. One segment of new circuit will run between Brookings, South Dakota, and Marshall, Minnesota, while the other will run between Scott and Dakota counties in Minnesota. Xcel Energy will start construction beginning in South Dakota this month.

“This project will bring low-cost renewable energy to millions of homes and businesses, supporting Xcel Energy’s clean energy vision and Minnesota’s 2040 carbon-free law,” said Ryan Long, president, Xcel Energy-Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. “We thank the Commission and other parties for recognizing the value of this project, which uses existing infrastructure to decrease congestion on our transmission system while limiting the impact to landowners in the area.”

This transmission project will have far-reaching congestion relief benefits. It will provide additional capacity, allowing more low-cost generation from southwest Minnesota and eastern South Dakota to reach customers throughout the region. Wind energy does not have any fuel costs and contributes to a diversified energy mix which helps protect against rising fuel prices and saves customers money.

Most of the proposed project will not require changes to the existing transmission line route which began operation in 2015 as part of the CapX2020 project, a joint project with several energy providers. At that time, the MPUC and CapX2020 companies agreed there would likely be a need for new transmission in the future. As a result, the project team constructed the middle portion of the line between Lyon and Scott counties with two circuits and built the western and eastern segments as “double circuit capable.” This allowed the companies to meet customers’ energy needs at the time while anticipating growing demand and wind generation in the future.

Alliant Energy, with four Grinnell community partners, has broken ground on multiple solar projects that will total 5 megawatts at the new Grinnell Solar Park on the west side of the city. Alliant Energy will own, operate and maintain the Grinnell Solar Park as part of its Alliant Energy Customer-Hosted Renewables program.

“This new solar park showcases the benefits of renewable energy and a new source of reliable energy for the community,” according to Amanda Accola, Senior Key Account Manager for Alliant Energy. “We’re appreciative of the forward-looking partners that made these four projects possible.”

The four community partners will each have their own solar projects nestled within the park. The City of Grinnell and Grinnell College will both have 2-MW projects. Mayflower Community and Ahrens Park Foundation will have a 625-kilowatt (kW) and a 375-kW facility, respectively.

MGE Energy’s utility subsidiary, Madison Gas and Electric is asking State regulators to approve a new community solar program largely based on Shared Solar, MGE's original and fully subscribed community solar program. Shared Solar II would offer participants the option to pay a minimal up-front fee to subscribe to receive energy from a local solar array for six years as the company continues to work toward reduced carbon emissions of at least 80% by 2030 (based on 2005 levels).

"MGE shares with our customers the goal of a more sustainable energy future. We continue to invest in the greater use of cost-effective, utility-scale renewable resources as we work toward our carbon reduction goals," said Jeff Keebler, MGE Chairman, President and CEO. "Shared Solar II builds on the success of our popular community solar program and provides our customers with another option for affordable, locally generated, carbon-free energy while also reducing costs for nonparticipating customers. Our Shared Solar II program also includes a proposal for a participation option for eligible low-income customers."

MGE residential and small business electric customers who choose to participate in Shared Solar II would receive carbon-free energy for up to 50% of their annual consumption and would lock in their energy rate for the six-year term of the agreement. Participating customers would pay a minimal up front participation fee based on the number of shares they choose.

A low-income alternative is also proposed for Shared Solar II. Under the proposed low-income option, eligible customers would pay a smaller up-front participation fee to reserve shares and a lower energy rate to participate. This energy rate also would be fixed for the duration of the six-year agreement. Eligible customers could include those who receive energy assistance from various sources.

Newsweek recently announced their list of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America – for the third year in a row, Alliant Energy was included. This prestigious award is presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider.

The Most Trustworthy Companies in America 2024 have been chosen based on a holistic approach to evaluating trust. The three main public pillars of trust were considered: customer trust, investor trust, and employee trust.

Statista conducted an analysis involving three key steps: defining the market by focusing on US-based companies with revenues exceeding $500 million, conducting an extensive survey with approximately 25,000 US residents who rated companies based on the three main public pillars of trust, resulting in 97,000 evaluations and employing social listening to monitor over 523,000 mentions of companies across various online media segments to assess sentiment.

WEC Energy Group has agreed to acquire a ninety percent ownership interest in the Delilah I Solar Energy Center.in Texas.

Delilah I is a 300-megawatt project located approximately 140 miles northeast of Dallas. The project was developed and built by Invenergy — a leading global developer and operator of sustainable energy solutions. Commercial operation is expected to begin by the end of June.

Delilah I will generate renewable energy under a long-term power purchase agreement with a global automaker. WEC Energy Group's investment is expected to total $459 million for the 90% ownership interest.

"The Delilah Solar project is an exciting addition to our Infrastructure business and highlights our continued investment in affordable, reliable and clean energy. This project will help one of the world's largest automakers meet their clean energy goals for years to come," said Gale Klappa, Executive Chairman.

MGE Energy has reported financial results for the first quarter of 2024. Earnings for the first quarter of 2024 were $33.8 million, or $0.93 per share, compared to $31.1 million, or $0.86 per share for the same period in the prior year.

In the first quarter of 2024, electric net income increased $2.5 million compared to the first quarter of 2023. The first-quarter results were primarily driven by an increase in investments included in rate base.

Despite having one of the warmest February months on record, gas net income in the first quarter of 2024 remained relatively flat compared to the first quarter of 2023.