MONROE — Making good on a promise to add more renewable energy to its electrical grid, Alliant Energy is poised to begin construction on six new solar projects in central Wisconsin — including a 400-acre site in Albany.

The projects combined are expected to generate enough electricity to power as many as 300,000 homes annually. 

The Albany Solar project in Green County is an estimated 50-megawatt farm — slightly smaller than Alliant’s Rock County site but still enough electricity to power nearly 13,000 Wisconsin homes and businesses. The company also says it will create up to 100 jobs at each central Wisconsin solar site. 

Madison-based Alliant received approval for the projects late Tuesday from the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. Alliant will provide lease payments to landowners in the project area for its 30-year lifespan.

“We are excited to break ground and begin construction on the Albany and Paddock solar projects, key components of our plans to accelerate toward a cleaner energy future,” said David de Leon, president of Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin energy company. “We expect our solar development plans to create hundreds of new construction jobs and deliver safe, reliable, affordable energy for years to come.” 

The six new solar farms comprise part of a 12-project plan Alliant Energy has developed around renewable power. Combined, Alliant is adding nearly 1,100 megawatts of solar energy to the state’s energy grid, according to the company.

In addition to Albany Solar and Paddock Solar in Rock County, approval was granted for Beaver Dam Solar in Dodge County; Cassville Solar in Grant County; Springfield Solar in Dodge County and Wautoma Solar in Waushara County. 

Alliant Energy representatives said the company made it a goal in Oct. 2019 to begin moving faster toward renewable energy, and effort that created 1-gigawatt of solar energy projects between Iowa and Wisconsin, officials said. 

The solar projects have generated far less controversy at the local level than the Wind Farm projects also proposed to create more clean energy to power Wisconsin.