Rising prices are being blamed for a nearly $32 million cost increase for a solar farm under construction for two Southwest Wisconsin utilities. Madison Gas and Electric and We Energies say a combination of supply-chain constraints, increased labor costs and trade investigation have resulted in a 16% cost overrun and a three-month delay for the Iowa County project known as Badger Hollow II. The utilities say the cost increases will enable the project to avoid significantly longer delays, resulting in lower greenhouse gas emissions and lowering future energy costs for customers. Solar panel shortages have been blamed for delays in at least two other Wisconsin utility projects. Alliant Energy, which plans to invest about $1.5 billion in a dozen solar sites across the state, has postponed the start of construction of a $250 million solar farm in Grant County by five months, while Xcel Energy says a $104 million project in Pierce County will be delayed by at least a year.
