On the latest episode of the Electric Wire podcast, we are bringing listeners along for two recent, in-person tours hosted by CFC for our members. Our first stop was at Madison Gas and Electric’s fast-charging hub for electric vehicles in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. The fast-charging hub features sixteen fast-charging stalls, including eight Tesla Superchargers. 

Our next tour stop was at Madison Gas and Electric’s O’Brien Solar Fields just south of Madison in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. The 22-MW O'Brien Solar Fields delivers locally-generated solar energy to large energy users.

Watch and listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or on our YouTube channel, here: https://youtu.be/JVK0103DDaE?si=6ABoQlmdb6oyzy1f

The episode features subject matter experts from Madison Gas & Electric guiding our tours, including:

• Erinn Monroe-Nye – Energy Services and Policy Manager

• John Armstrong – Renewable Engineering Manager

• Mark Lydon – Senior Account Manager

• Jeanne Burns-Frank – Environmental and Sustainability Program Manager

Key Moments from the Episode Include:

2:00 – Erinn Details EV Fast Charging Hub

7:34 – Lessons learned during operation of EV Fast Charging Hub

9:20 – Question about managing cars parked at hub

10:19 – Erinn’s “All the Power” Moment (Paving the way for more fast chargers)

11:00 – O’Brien Solar Tour Begins

14:20 – Mark discusses MGE customers receiving power from project

16:28 – Project Development and Leasing with John

18:30 – Jeanne discusses vegetation mix and ideal native plants for solar sites

27:40 – Process of converting sunlight to electricity on site

29:40 – Winter considerations at solar site

31:40 – Land use and benefits to the land

32:41 – John’s “All the Power” Moment (MISO Queue)

33:44 – Mark’s “All the Power” Moment (Energy jargon)

34:55 – Jeanne’s “All the Power” Moment (Energy storage)

Find more information about the EV fast charging hub and O’Brien Solar Fields at the Madison Gas & Electric website:

EV Charging Hub:

https://www.mge.com/newsroom/news-rel...

MG&E Solar Projects:

https://www.mge.com/our-environment/g...