JP Cullen, a $500+ million, full-service construction company headquartered in Janesville with additional offices in Madison and Milwaukee, is the first local business to announce plans to be an anchor tenant in Alliant Energy’s Janesville Community Solar garden. The community-funded solar garden will reduce dependence on fossil fuels and positively affect the environment through the support of residential and business customers.
JP Cullen has purchased 10% of the 9,000 solar blocks at the 2.25-megawatt project, to be located east of the Rock Haven Assisted Living facility on county-owned property. The garden will power up to 1,800 homes at maximum output. Alliant Energy will begin construction next spring and expects the project to be operational by the end of 2024.
“We’re thrilled JP Cullen has taken us up on the opportunity to be an anchor tenant as we deliver on our purpose to serve our customers and build stronger communities,” said David de Leon, president of Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin utility company. “We developed this community solar garden in Janesville in response to our customers’ desire for more access to renewable energy, and that interest has resulted in many new subscriptions.”
"Embracing renewable energy and investing in a solar garden isn't just a wise business decision; it's a commitment to a sustainable future for our community. At JP Cullen, we believe in not just building buildings, but also a better world,” said George Cullen, co-president of JP Cullen. “By supporting this, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint but also reaping the benefits of clean, affordable energy. I would like to thank Alliant for making this significant investment in our hometown. It's an investment that pays dividends for our planet and our business, and I'm proud to be a part of this forward-thinking initiative.”
The Janesville-based garden is part of the Alliant Energy® Community Solar program. It allows the company’s electric customers to benefit from solar power without installing solar panels on their property. Since the company announced the project in April, approximately 35% of the solar garden’s blocks have already been purchased.
Subscribers will receive monthly credits on their electric bills for every solar block they purchase at $337 apiece. Credits will begin once the garden is operational and continue for the 20-year life of the project. In addition to monthly bill credits, anchor tenants receive renewable energy credits to offset carbon emissions.
People can also donate blocks to the Hometown Care Energy Fund, or purchase them as gifts for family members, friends, neighbors and nonprofit organizations that are also Alliant Energy customers.
Alliant Energy’s first community solar garden became operational in January 2022 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
