City of Sun Prairie Achieves 100% Renewable Electricity Milestone

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 14, 2025
Jake King
Communications and Diversity Strategist
jking@cityofsunprairie.com
(608) 332-5397

City of Sun Prairie Achieves 100% Renewable Electricity Milestone

The City of Sun Prairie has achieved a major sustainability milestone by powering municipal facilities and operations with 100% renewable electricity. This accomplishment fulfills the commitment passed in March 2022 by the city council to transition city operations to clean electricity by 2025 as recommended by the City’s sustainability committee.

Municipal buildings such as City Hall, the Sun Prairie Public Library, the Westside Community Services Building, and Wastewater Treatment Plant, along with city operations such as electric vehicle charging stations, traffic lights, and street lights, are now powered entirely by renewable electricity.

“We are proud to achieve this milestone and by doing so, we are not only reducing our environmental impact but also setting the stage for future clime action,” said Dr. Rose Daily, sustainability & resilience manager.

The City powers municipal operations in part with on-site solar energy. The balance of the facilities’ electric usage is offset with renewable energy blocks purchased through Sun Prairie Utilities’ Choose Renewable program.

Since 2018, Sun Prairie has installed three photovoltaic systems totaling 591 kilowatts (kW) to power municipal utilities, generating over 750 megawatt-hours of clean electricity annually. By 2026, an additional 571 kW will bring the City’s total solar capacity to over 1.1 megawatts. To further reduce municipal energy use, the City has upgraded streetlights to LEDs, improved building lightning and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, and implemented weatherization measures. Any remaining grid electricity is offset through Choose Renewable energy blocks sourced from 46% solar, 45% wind, and 9% biogas.

This transition eliminates 5,358 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, marking a significant step toward Sun Prairie’s broader climate goals. The City is now developing its first Climate Action Plan, set for adoption in late 2025, which will establish citywide emission reduction targets for 2030 and 2050.

“Sun Prairie’s citizens can be proud of the community’s longstanding commitment to clean energy,” said Andy Hirvela, interim utility manager, Sun Prairie Utilities. “Our utility stands behind this commitment by delivering renewable energy options for the public buildings, homes and businesses we serve.”

For more information about Sun Prairie’s sustainability efforts, please visit www.cityofsunprairie.com/SustainableSunPrairie

About City of Sun Prairie

Sun Prairie is a vibrant and thriving community located in northeastern Dane County, just east of the City of Madison. The City of Sun Prairie has experienced strong population growth since its incorporation from a village to a city in 1958, undergoing a transformation from a relatively small community of less than 4,000 to an estimated 39,419 today.