Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services (PPCS) celebrated a significant milestone in renewable energy on Thursday, September 19, with the dedication of the Trenton Solar at Truttmann Field solar array. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official launch of this innovative project, developed in partnership with the National Association of State Energy Officials, the Office of Energy Innovation through the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC), and WEST CAP.

The event brought together local officials, project partners, and community members to commemorate the completion of the solar array. This project represents a major step forward in PPCS’ commitment to sustainable energy and environmental stewardship.

Key Highlights of the Ceremony:

• Speeches and Acknowledgments: Representatives from the National Association of State Energy Officials, the Office of Energy Innovation, and WEST CAP shared their insights and expressed their gratitude for the collaborative efforts that made this project possible.
• Ribbon Cutting: Nate Boettcher, PPCS president and CEO, led the ceremonial ribbon cutting, symbolizing the solar array's official dedication.
• Tour of the Facility: Attendees were given a guided tour of the solar array, showcasing its state-of-the-art technology and the benefits it will bring to the community.

Project Details: The Trenton Solar at Truttmann Field solar array is designed to provide clean, renewable energy to the local grid, reducing the community’s carbon footprint and promoting energy independence. The partnership with WEST CAP ensures that low-income households can access this clean energy source. The project is expected to generate two megawatts of power, enough to supply over 500 homes with electricity annually.

“This is an exciting day for our cooperative,” said PPCS president and CEO Nate Boettcher. “There were many struggles along the way with supply chain issues and sourcing the right switches and transformers. Bringing this clean energy to our region could not have happened without the collaboration of all the agencies involved.”

The solar array sits on a plot of 16 acres, 12 of which are used for the array. It is comprised of 4,134 550-watt bifacial panels. It is a single-axis tracking system that follows the sun. To date, the array has produced over 2.47GWh of electricity.