Dairyland Power Cooperative is expanding its renewable energy resources with the addition of another commercial solar project. The new solar installation will be approximately 520 kilowatts (kW), and could produce enough energy to power nearly 60 homes. The project will be located adjacent to Vernon Electric Cooperative’s headquarters along U.S. Highway 27 in Westby, Wis.

Dairyland has signed an agreement with Clean Energy Collective to purchase the renewable energy produced by this large solar facility, which will be developed, owned and managed by Clean Energy Collective of Boulder, Colo. Construction of the solar facility is scheduled to begin this spring and planned to be operational by June 1, 2014.

“For many years, we have been steadily adding renewable resources to our system while balancing reliability and affordability for our members,” said Bill Berg, President and CEO. “Solar powered generation was part of our long-term resource plan, and this project is a good fit with Dairyland’s overall strategic plan.”