Construction is underway on three renewable energy projects across Wisconsin that will together produce enough energy to power about 100,000 homes, We Energies announced August 4. The projects — spanning solar, wind and battery storage — will support more than 450 jobs and form part of the utility’s strategy to diversify its generation mix as electricity demand climbs across the state.

Three Sites, One Strategy

The Darien Battery Storage facility, a 75-megawatt installation in Walworth County, broke ground last week as an addition to the existing Darien Solar and Battery Park, where a 250-megawatt solar array came online in 2025. In Rock County, crews began work in June on the Dawn Harvest Solar and Battery Park, a 150-megawatt solar project paired with 50 megawatts of battery storage. The Badger Hollow Wind Energy Center, a 110-megawatt wind project spanning Iowa and Grant counties, broke ground in July.

All three received prior approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.

Union Jobs and Grid Reliability

We Energies president Mike Hooper framed the buildout as part of a broader “all of the above” generation approach that blends renewables with natural gas capacity to keep pace with rising demand. The utility says the three projects will bring hundreds of union-first construction jobs to the state while adding to a growing renewable portfolio: We Energies now has more than 3,000 megawatts of solar and wind and 600 megawatts of battery storage in service, under construction or filed for regulatory approval.

We Energies will hold majority ownership of the new projects, with Wisconsin Public Service and Madison Gas and Electric participating as co-owners.

Invenergy’s Wisconsin Footprint

Invenergy, the developer building all three sites, has completed 17 projects in Wisconsin to date and currently has 1,500 megawatts of solar, wind and battery storage under construction statewide. Company development executive Daniel Litchfield said the projects extend Invenergy’s pattern of pairing new generation capacity with direct investment in the communities hosting it, including new jobs and consistent revenue for the state.

A similar dynamic is playing out one state over: Xcel Energy has broken ground on a transmission line and natural gas peaking plant in southwest Minnesota designed to move new renewable power onto the grid while backstopping it with dispatchable capacity — a strategy that mirrors We Energies’ own mix of renewables and gas-fired reliability.

At a Glance

• Darien Battery Storage: 75 MW, Walworth County, broke ground last week
• Dawn Harvest Solar and Battery Park: 150 MW solar + 50 MW battery, Rock County, broke ground June 2026
• Badger Hollow Wind Energy Center: 110 MW, Iowa/Grant counties, broke ground July 2026
• Combined generation: 260 MW solar and wind; combined storage: 125 MW battery
• Energy output: enough to power about 100,000 homes
• Jobs: 450+ construction positions, union-first
• Owners: We Energies (majority), Wisconsin Public Service, Madison Gas and Electric
• Developer: Invenergy
• Regulatory status: All three approved by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin