A utility-scale solar generation site is online and producing renewable energy in the service territory of Jo-Carroll Energy, a Dairyland member cooperative. The York Solar Site, located near Thomson, Ill., is a 1.5 megawatt solar energy array owned and operated by ENGIE North America. Dairyland Power Cooperative, Jo-Carroll Energy’s wholesale power provider, has a power purchase agreement with ENGIE for the full output of the facility. ENGIE installed, owns, operates and maintains the facility.

"The development of local renewable energy is an important step in charting a sustainable path for our cooperative membership," said Mike Casper, Jo-Carroll President and CEO.

The solar installation is engineered with a tracking system which follows the path of the sun to increase energy production. Beneficial bee and butterfly habitat is also being developed at the York solar energy site. ENGIE is using native seed mixes of grasses and flowers to create a certified pollinator garden.

The York Solar Site is one of 18 solar installations that Dairyland has under contract for the benefit of Jo-Carroll Energy and 23 other member cooperatives within Dairyland’s service territory in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois. Together, York Solar and the 17 other sites yield 25 MW of solar energy, producing enough renewable energy to power nearly 4,000 homes.

About Jo-Carroll Energy: Jo-Carroll Energy is a not-for-profit distribution cooperative, owned and controlled by the members it serves. Headquartered in Elizabeth, Ill., the cooperative serves more than 26,800 electric, natural gas and/or broadband internet accounts in Jo Daviess, Carroll Whiteside and Henry counties.

About ENGIE: ENGIE North America Inc.’s Distributed Solar group (formerly SoCore Energy) is a market leader in commercial, industrial and distributed solar and storage portfolio development based in Chicago, Ill.

About Dairyland Power Cooperative: Headquartered in La Crosse, Wis., Dairyland provides the wholesale electrical requirements for 24 distribution cooperatives and 17 municipal utilities. These cooperatives and municipals, in turn, supply the energy needs of more than a half-million people in the four-state service area. For more information, visit www.DairylandPower.com.