New President and Update

By David Benforado, Madison Gas and Electric Company

As we announced in October of last year, Jeff Keebler succeeded Gary Wolter as President and CEO on March 1, 2017. Gary continues to serve as Chairman.  Jeff has been with MGE since 1995 and has served in various leadership positions across the company. To help introduce him to the community during this planned transition, we have a number of online updates, including a Q&A with him at https://www.energy2030together.com. Jeff was instrumental in developing our Energy 2030 framework and is committed to MGE remaining a trusted energy partner in our community. He talks in the Q&A about a number of things beyond energy. We also have a new video with him at https://www.mge.com/Energy2030.  You might see Jeff out and about in the community. If you do, say hello!

Since the introduction of our Energy 2030 framework, we've been working on a number of initiatives, including a proposal for a major wind farm:

• In late February, we announced that we are seeking approval to build MGE's largest wind farm to date. We began scouting for new wind sites more than a year ago and signed an initial agreement for the site last fall. This site, which is located about 200 miles west of Madison near Saratoga, Iowa, will help MGE work toward its renewable energy and carbon emissions goals under Energy 2030. If the project is approved by regulators, Saratoga's turbines could be under construction in spring of next year. You can find more details about it at https://www.energy2030together.com.
  
• MGE's Shared Solar pilot project in partnership with the City of Middleton began generating clean energy for subscribers in January. A video from the recent celebration with customers is online at https://www.energy2030together.com under Cleaner Energy. We continue to add customers to the waiting list for possible additional community solar projects in the future.
• MGE staff continue to meet and discuss with the City of Madison how we can collaborate further as the City seeks to move its own Energy Work Plan forward.
  
• And, later this year, we'll be introducing a new pilot program for residential customers who have smart thermostats. If you're interested in a smart thermostat, Focus on Energy currently has an incentive offer.  You can read more about it on our Energy 2030 site:  https://www.energy2030together.com/our-energy-use/smart-thermostat-incentive-offer-focus.htm

Thank you for your time and interest in these matters. Please stay engaged in our energy future. We look forward to sharing updates with you periodically and through stories on our Energy 2030 website,
https://www.energy2030together.com.

David J Benforado is the Community Services Manager at MGE - a proud sponsor of LENA!