October 12, 2023

Podcast listeners can join for tours at MGE EV Fast Charging Hub and O’Brien Solar Fields

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...


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