Edgerton Reporter: Dawn Harvest Solar Energy Center donates $5K to Lakeside Fire-Rescue District
By Tristan McGough Special to the Reporter, 1/29/25
At their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Jan. 23, Lakeside Fire-Rescue commissioners were presented with a $5,000 check from Invenergy for acquiring bulletproof vests that can be worn during high-alert fire and rescue incidents.
Jacquelyn Bruegging, Renewable Development Associate of Invenergy, presented the check as part their company's community investment program of donating funds to local agencies which are essential for maintaining a vibrant community in which the firm has itself become invested.
"We wanted to make this donation to the fire department in appreciation of your service and your sacrifice that you all make for the community,” Bruegging said.
"I have a lot of respect for fire and EMS and am really excited to be giving this donation, as I understand you are going to be purchasing protective vests and this can be used towards that.
"We're donating $5,000 from the Dawn Harvest Project, which will be very involved with the fire department during the project, as well as we'll be hosting annual and quarterly safety training meetings that you can attend.”
She introduced Construction Manager Casey Joyce, who alongside herself, presented an oversized check for $5,000 to Board President John Sherman and Fire Chief Randall Pickering after which Joyce offered a Q&A period to update commissioners on the project.
In summary, the Dawn Harvest Solar Energy Center is a proposed 150 megawatt (MW) solar power generation facility that will support an additional 50 MW of battery storage in Rock County.
Casey told the board that development of the Dawn Harvest Solar Energy Project had began in 2019, and since then Invenergy has been working to appropriately size the project. with the grid operator, as well as secure agreements with landowners, perform required studies to support solar development, and meet with local stakeholders, as they were doing that night.
"Currently, our efforts are largely focused on conducting all necessary studies to ensure we site our project facilities in the most appropriate and responsible location."
Commissioners discussed how the project would impact the local economy and were told that more than $96 million would be invested in local tax revenue, land costs and lease payments, as well as wages and benefits over the life of the project.
"150 MW,” Casey noted, "is and enough electricity to power more than 30,000 American homes. Further, up to 300 jobs will be supported during construction."
He also said the facility, once finished, would support five fulltime operations and maintenance staff and, as an environmental benefit, "emissions reductions would be equivalent to 71 million trees planted."
The board was thoroughly appreciative of Invenergy's generosity, with several commissioners commenting on how transparent the company was in offering all the information it had on the project and its potential impacts to the economy, the community and the environment.