OneEnergy Renewables joined Xcel Energy August 13th to cut the ribbon on the utility’s new, 1-megawatt Ashland Solar*Connect Community Solar garden in Ashland, Wisconsin. The ceremony marked another milestone in Xcel’s goal of being 100% carbon free by 2050. Solar*Connect Community is a portfolio of three 1-megawatt locally sourced solar projects, two of which were developed for Xcel by OneEnergy Renewables, the Ore Dock Solar...

A commitment to renewable energy is nothing new for big corporations. In fact, it’s starting to become the norm for companies to source more and more of their power needs from renewable generation. However most of the time companies either buy renewable energy credits, install on-site arrays at their business locations or enter into power purchase agreements (PPAs) with large generations facilities that can immediately meet need. Joining the...

This article originally appeared in GreenBiz.  By Sarah Golden Last week, Organic Valley became the latest company to announce it is on track to be powered by 100 percent clean energy. That makes the dairy co-operative the largest food company in the world to do so, according to its marketing team. But if you are just focusing on the headline, you’re missing most of the story. That’s because Organic Valley figured out a unique deal structure...

ARTICLE BY FRANK JOSSI ENERGY NEWS NETWORK As Wisconsin’s largest-ever solar project comes online this summer, the multi-site, multi-state partnership behind the development offers a potential model for how organizations can band together to meet clean energy goals. The Butter Solar Project consists of 32 megawatts installed at 10 locations feeding into 13 municipal utilities in three states. A who’s who of co-op grocery store shelves...

OneEnergy Renewables was thrilled to join Organic Valley in Cashton, Wisconsin this week to celebrate their journey to becoming 100 percent renewably powered. Organic Valley, America’s largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the nation’s leading organic brands, announced August 1st that construction of three community solar projects totaling 9 megawatts was complete. OneEnergy was honored to develop the projects as part of unique...

Today the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin approved two long-term supply contracts between Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) and two of its customers who wish to receive more electricity from renewable energy. With these approvals in hand, the City of Middleton and the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District become the first customers in Wisconsin to contract with their local utility to receive emission-free electricity from an offsite...

The ribbon has been officially cut on the new 18 acre solar farm in Fennimore.  Finishing this project makes Fennimore home to the largest solar array in Wisconsin for the time being until Arcadia’s array goes online. The Fennimore project is part of what is known as the Butter Solar portfolio, a group of 10 different solar projects located in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. The project began as a collaboration between Organic Valley,...

It’s National Pollinator Week! In honor of our pollinating friends, we compiled some of America’s best resources for learning about and protecting the bird, bee, and butterfly populations. After all, pollinators are responsible for $10 billion in U.S. crops, so they deserve our protection!   Rent a Bee. That’s right - residents of Washington State and Oregon can rent leafcutter bees to help pollinate their gardens. Doing so helps boost the...

[caption id="attachment_1849" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Dan Barron, Organic Valley[/caption] The first of five new rural solar energy projects getting financial support from the city of Madison will begin operations in Argyle by mid-June, city officials said Wednesday. The city, in partnership with BluEarth Renewables and OneEnergy Renewables, is investing $1.4 million to support the five new solar array projects, which will cost a...

[caption id="attachment_1842" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Minnesota bee keeper, Jim Degiovanni, inspects "BareHoney" hives outside IMS Solar, a pollinator-friendly photovoltaic array site in St. Joseph, Minn. Credit: Dennis Schroeder National Renewable Energy Lab Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)[/caption] On May 20th, friends of wildlife around the globe celebrate World Bee Day. At OneEnergy, we strive...

An evening hearing for the purpose of receiving public comment on the Bluegrass Solar, LLC CPCN Application for an 80 MW solar facility in Queen Anne's County, Case No. 9496 will be held in Maryland.  The public hearing, second one scheduled in 2019, will be held on: Tuesday, June 18, 2019, 6:30 p.m., at the Church Hill Elementary School 631 Main Street Church Hill, MD 21623 Any person wishing to provide written comment on the Application may...

Solar energy is nearly ready to begin powering Lanesboro, MN.  The solar field is expected to supply 20 percent of the city's energy needs, and Lanesboro will be ready to begin receiving power from the facility by June 1, 2019. The Lanesboro project is part of the innovative community solar partnership developed by OneEnergy, Renewables, Organic Valley and the UMMEG. OneEnergy Renewables is developing the Lanesboro solar field and BluEarth...

Wisconsin's Joint Finance Committee begins voting on the 2019-2021 State Budget starting on May 9th, including key provisions to bolster renewable energy innovation and jobs across the state. This budget proposal is a renewable energy winner, allocating $50 million to fund energy conservation projects and $25 million for renewable energy projects on state-owned facilities. These funds would help state agencies and the University of Wisconsin...

The City of Lanesboro is getting amped up for the completion of a new solar field that is currently being constructed which will supply an average of 20% of the electricity for the town. The solar array, located at the far southeast corner of the city, in the neighborhood known as Southern Hills, is a new and exciting venture for the City of Lanesboro. OneEnergy Renewables, based in Seattle, Wash., began discussions with Organic Valley about...

The Washington State Department of Commerce has announced over $1.6 million in grants in support of solar energy. OneEnergy Renewables ($500,000) will use the funds for a solar project with private utility PacifiCorp in Sunnyside, Wash. The project will provide power to the distribution side of PacifiCorp’s network, reducing the need to buy additional electricity from the energy market to meet peak demand. Peninsula Light Co. ($139,860), a...

Two evening hearings for the purpose of receiving public comment on the Bluegrass Solar Application will be held in Maryland.  The first public hearing will be held on: Wednesday, May 1, 2019, 6:30 p.m., at the Church Hill Elementary School 631 Main Street Church Hill, MD 21623 Any person wishing to provide written comment on the Application may do between now and June 19, 2019.  Written comments should be sent to Terry J. Romine, Executive...

Pesticide exposure, climate change, and habitat loss have created a toxic cocktail that is harming populations of pollinators critical to sustainable agriculture and food security. Simultaneously, millions of tons of topsoil are lost annually due to wind and water erosion, causing what acclaimed Cornell professor David Pimentel refers to as “one of the most serious environmental and public health problems facing human society.” But with...

CALGARY, Alberta, March 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BluEarth Renewables LP (“BluEarth”) is pleased to announce its U.S. affiliate has acquired a 22.9 MWAC solar portfolio (“Projects”) from OneEnergy Renewables, a leading developer of community and utility-scale solar energy projects in the United States. The Projects, also known as the Butter Solar portfolio, are located across three states – Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa – and consist of...

Organic Valley, a U.S. cooperative of organic farmers, is launching a community solar partnership resulting in over 31 MW of solar in the Midwest. The project will enable Organic Valley to become 100% renewably powered and share the benefits of solar with its rural neighbors. Last October, Organic Valley committed to achieve 100% renewable power at its corporate facilities. In total, 13 communities across the Midwest will benefit from the...

LA FARGE, Wis., Thirteen Midwest communities to benefit from 31 megawatts of new solar, 33 percent increase within the state of Wisconsin Dr. Bronner's joins partnership to become 100 percent renewably powered Organic Valley, America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and a leading organic brand, today announced details of the first-of-its-kind community solar partnership launched last year. The project enables Organic Valley to share...