WPPI Energy Celebrates Commissioning of 100-Megawatt Solar Project

State and local leaders recently joined executives from NextEra Energy Resources LLC and WPPI Energy to celebrate the commissioning of the Point Beach Solar Energy Center, Wisconsin’s newest large-scale solar energy project.

The Point Beach Solar Energy Center spans 465 acres in the town of Two Creeks, Wis., and is adjacent to the Point Beach Nuclear Plant, which is also owned by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources.

The Point Beach Solar Energy Center features more than 315,000 photovoltaic solar panels and has a capacity to generate 100 megawatts.

A subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources built, owns and will operate the project.

The energy will serve WPPI Energy member communities under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

“Not only will Point Beach Solar provide affordable energy to our member communities, but it will also further diversify our portfolio and help us continue to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions associated with supplying power,” said Mike Peters, president and CEO of WPPI Energy.

With the addition of Point Beach Solar Energy Center, the WPPI Energy membership is on track for approximately a 45% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2025 when compared to 2005.

Over the next 20 years, the Point Beach Solar Energy Center is expected to generate nearly $8 million in additional revenue for Manitowoc County, Wis., WPPI noted.

Member-owned, not-for-profit WPPI Energy serves 51 locally owned electric utilities.

NextEra Energy Resources is one of the largest wholesale generators of electric power in the U.S., with approximately 21,900 MW of net generating capacity, primarily in 37 states and Canada as of year-end 2019. NextEra Energy Resources is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc., an investor-owned utility.