Dairyland Power Celebrates New Wind Farm In Southwestern Wisconsin

A new wind farm in southwestern Wisconsin is bringing energy and revenue to residents.

EDP Renewables recently finished construction on the Quilt Block Wind Farm in Lafayette County. The name comes from local “barn quilts,” pieces of wood painted to look like quilt blocks that decorate many of the farms hosting the new towers.

Dairyland Power Cooperative has a 20-year agreement to purchase power from the new wind farm.

“With 49 towers, each at about 2 megawatts, it’s a pretty sizeable project,” said Barb Nick, president and CEO of Dairyland Power. “This is significant for the state of Wisconsin. It’s certainly very significant for Dairyland and we’re excited about it because it should power about 25,000 homes.”

Nick said the purchase agreement is part of the cooperative’s efforts to diversify their energy resources and become less carbon intensive.

“EDP Renewables is proud to expand its operational presence into the Badger State and bring a number of environmental and economic benefits to Wisconsin and surrounding states,” said Steve Irvin, the company’s executive vice president.

EDPR will pay landowners around $23 million over the life of the project for hosting the new towers. The company also has a revenue sharing agreement with the state that includes annual payments to Seymour Township and Lafayette County.

“The public reaction has been overwhelmingly positive,” Nick said. “(Landowners) said that the project from beginning to end just went very well. Good relationships, good community outreach and there will be an ongoing revenue stream for the local community.”