It’s Dane County’s biggest solar project yet – the O’Brien Solar Fields, one of the state’s largest generators of renewable energy.
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So glad to see the effort to move to renewable energy. Family farming is a diminishing endeavor. I hope this can continue to grow.
Great project and great video story.
Thank you!
Nice. I’m so glad we’re investing in these solar farms!
very cool. or warm. or whatever season one needs electricity!
I ride my bike by that farm, now solar array, all the time. It’s nice to put a name and face with it now!
I am all for renewable energy and sustainability. I am proud to live in such a progressive community. The steps and strides that Dane county is making are amazing!
The more solar the better, Next we cane raise them higher of the ground so they can plant crops under them.
Good to see this! I hope to soon design and build an all-electric ultra-low-energy home with PV panels equivalent to my electricity usage. Consider using the space between and under the arrays of panels for local agricultural crops! That’s already being done in Colorado.
I’m so curious how you keep the grass under control around the panels? Mower, goats, chemicals?
I’ve driven by that field several times a week for a few years now, and I watched as “something interesting” was going on out there over time, but I had no idea what it was. Eventually the panels started going up onto the scaffolding, and it became apparent what was being built. I am all for renewable energy, and I’m pleased that this was obviously a win-win for the farmer and the local power grid as well. Now we just need more of the same!
I’m so proud of my friend, Pat O’Brien, for co-creating this new field of dreams on his farm!
Does MG &E have plans to facilitate moderately sized decentralized solar arrays for neighborhood developments? This would seem to be a logical addition to our local and regional zoning regs to minimize straining and imbalances of the existing power grids. Developers could incorporate a significant percentage of the new power needs as a permanent asset of new neighborhood plans, a real selling point with the uncertainties of worsening climate swings.
Nice! I’m wondering how much bigger this field is than the one out by the airport.
I loved watching this! We all need to know that good things are possible and that they are happening. Thank you MG&E AND the O’Brien family!
In the 70s Madison was the first to start a recycling program. It strived to place the importance of our nature and the impact of our use of the land & the link between the two. I signed up for Green Power when it just started. Still, decades later I am still telling people about it and they are unaware it exists. I cannot wait until we are 100% Renewable energy.
I see a great advantage here of working with farmers who see economic benefit for themselves, as opposed to land confiscation by eminent domain which can raise a lot of local opposition.
Good project, but make it better with appropriate native plants! Lots of consultants in Dane County who could give advice on best plants to use.
Great project, hopefully more to come.
I ride my bicycle by that corner and am looking forward to seeing the solar panels!
Great to see the investment in solar! Love it
An excellent management of farm resources to change to solar panels and ability to move to renewable energy, making it more green.
What a win-win project for Fitchburg and the surrounding area! Consider adding crops that would provide soil-based carbon sequestration. That would make projects like this even more effective. Many thanks to the O’Brien family – you are heroes!
So cool! Love that we’re investing in clean energy while keeping it local
I love this new field of dreams and what it will make available for Fitchburg and beyond. It was also great to see a view from above and how it fits in.
Congratulations to the O’Brian family for a remarkable legacy.
It looks wonderful. I hope everyone involved continues to explore creative ways to multi use the land such as goats or pollinator plants.
I appreciate the progressive nature of this partnership between MG&E and the O’Brien’s. It’s obvious much thought went into the planning of this project to ensure it’s success. Congratulations!
Thank you for doing it!
is there any way to monitor the hourly output of the solar field?
Excellent project. It’s a win for everyone! Hopefully we can accelerate the pace to construct new projects like it.
This is an Awesome idea! I am so glad you are able to keep your farm plus this is the cleanest form of energy around!. I bet with the area let you could always plant clover and such to help the pollinators. No care, no mow and energy all around.
The idea of collecting reflective sunlight from the snow was a new concept to me. I appreciate your video and the learning experience.
This made me so happy! Nothing like local farmers producing our local energy. I hope this helps make it financially possible to keep this farm in the O’Brien Family for generations to come. Forward Wisconsin!
This is Fitchburg~ The O’Brien Farm~ Community
I’ve been a fan of renewable energy for years. I love seeing the solar panels and windmills, and I hope the industry continues growing.
Thanks for the history of the farm and its new contribution to solar energy.
This field is near my home, and I was wondering whether MG&E had something to do with it!
Solar really is our future of energy.
Love to hear stories such as Solar in our local community. Great job!
What a great transition for the farm that formerly used the sun to grow crops and now uses it to grow businesses and communities, all while allowing those who were stewards of the land for so long to retire and passively keep serving their neighbors! Excellent use of bifacial solar tracking panels too! Any thoughts on possible prairie restoration or other under panel vegetation?
Thanks for working toward a renewable energy future. I look forward to touring the facility in the future.
Investment in renewal energies gives me hope for the future of our planet and our children.
Love the dual-sided panels! Glad to see more renewable energy. Any thoughts on shading parking lots (or top floors of ramps) with solar panels? More comfortable cars, and more solar energy!
Congratulations to our cousins, Pat & Mike Obrien and the Obrien family. A dream come True! Glad that the land will stay with the family and its history.
Cudoes to MG&E and the O’Briens, green energy is the future..
Thanks for sharing this wonderful story. I had no idea this was located here. Anxious to take a look & share w/ our grandkids as hope for the future.
Impressive!! From Concept to Reality.
I hope that more solar farms are developed. Thanks for the story!
In my youth, this was regarded as the best farmland in the Fitchburg Township. Now gone to solar field of dreams.