Wisconsin Public Service Commission Requests Extension for Red Barn Wind Energy Center Review

Strategic Insights -

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission has requested an extension of time to review the joint application of Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and Madison Gas and Electric Company for a Certificate of Authority to purchase the Red Barn Wind Energy Center Generation Facility in Grant County, Wisconsin. The original 90-day deadline for review expired on January 13, 2022, but the Commission staff anticipates that the review will not be completed before this deadline. Commission staff is currently reviewing several other pending matters and working on various tasks to ensure a comprehensive analysis in this docket.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Wisconsin Public Service Commission has requested an extension of time to review the joint application of Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and Madison Gas and Electric Company for a Certificate of Authority to purchase the Red Barn Wind Energy Center Generation Facility.
  • The original 90-day deadline for review expired on January 13, 2022, but the Commission staff anticipates that the review will not be completed before this deadline.
  • Commission staff is currently reviewing several other pending matters, including CPCN applications from Koshkonong Solar Energy Center LLC, American Transmission Company LLC, and Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin.
  • Commission staff is also working on applications from Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and Wisconsin Electric Power Company for approval to acquire ownership interests in up to 814 MW of solar electric generation facilities.
  • The coordination of the various activities required in this docket to produce the information necessary for the memorandum on which the Commission can make a decision will not be able to be accomplished without an extension.
  • Commission staff respectfully submits that good cause exists for an extension of time, and therefore requests that the time period be extended for an additional 90 days.
  • The new deadline for taking final action will be April 13, 2022, if the request is granted.

Statistics:

  • 92 MW: The approximate size of the Red Barn Wind facility that the joint application seeks a Certificate of Authority (CA) to acquire.
  • 814 MW: The total amount of solar electric generation facilities that Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and Wisconsin Electric Power Company are seeking to acquire ownership interests in.
  • 5: The number of different locations where the solar facilities for which a CPCN is requested are located.
  • 90 days: The original 90-day deadline for the Commission to take final action on the joint application.
  • January 13, 2022: The date by which the 90-day deadline for review expired.
  • April 13, 2022: The new deadline for taking final action if the request for an extension of time is granted.

Sources:

  • PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF WISCONSIN Memorandum, November 8, 2021 (PSC REF#: 411086)
  • PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF WISCONSIN Memorandum, October 15, 2021 (PSC REF#: 423133)