Alliant Energy Plans New Battery Storage System in Sheboygan to Meet Future Customer Demand

Sheboygan is set to benefit from a new battery storage system thanks to Alliant Energy. The company has announced plans to construct a 99-megawatt battery storage system, pending approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, with construction expected to begin in 2024. The Edgewater Battery Project will span seven acres, and be adjacent to the Edgewater Generating Station on Lakeshore Drive, with a storage capacity large enough to power over 100,000 Wisconsin homes for four hours.

The Edgewater Battery Project is expected to begin services shortly after the Edgewater plant retires in 2025. The Edgewater plant was initially slated to close at the end of 2022, but the company delayed the closure, citing factors like expected energy shortages this summer. Alliant Energy’s PSCW filing stated that the battery project would be a cost-effective solution to meet future customer demand.

David de Leon, President of Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin energy company, explained that “This battery system represents the next phase of energy generation that will enable more sustainable growth and greater resiliency” and praised Sheboygan’s workforce and infrastructure, noting that the city has helped deliver safe and reliable energy to customers for generations.

Alliant Energy’s battery storage system is its latest cleaner energy investment in Sheboygan, following the completion of two customer-hosted solar projects in the Sheboygan Business Center and Kohler Company property, and plans for a 150 MW Onion River Solar Project in the town of Holland that is expected to be operational later this year. The company is also building energy storage sites with a combined capacity of 175 MW at Grant County and Wood County solar sites, as part of its Clean Energy Blueprint to eliminate coal dependence by 2040.

Alliant Energy’s commitment to cleaner energy is a positive step in creating a more sustainable future. The Edgewater Battery Project, in particular, will offer significant benefits for the Sheboygan community, providing a more cost-effective and sustainable solution to meet customer demand, while strengthening Alliant Energy’s energy portfolio. Overall, these investments will benefit the community, the environment, and future generations.