State approves two large solar power farms

Two Rivers is expected to get one of two solar electric farms.

Thursday, the state Public Service Commission approved the construction of two utility-scale solar generation projects, which are expected to more than quadruple the state's solar capacity.

According to the PSC, the Two Creeks Solar Generation Facility will be near Two Rivers and have a capacity of 150 megawatts. That's roughly how much 40,000 Wisconsin households use in a year.

The other facility will be in Iowa County and produce up to 300 megawatts, or enough to power 80,000 Wisconsin households.

"These projects are an important first step in decreasing the carbon footprint of Wisconsin's energy production," the PSC wrote. "Wisconsin is ready to embrace a clean energy economy thanks to declining costs of renewable infrastructure and utilityes responding to customer demands for clean energy options."

Sen. Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay) praised the Public Service Commision's decision.

"Today's action by the PSC is a bold step forward for our state's energy diversity and security, and could mark the beginning of a new era for Wisconsin's energy industry," the state senator wrote