Solar gardens popping up throughout western Wisconsin

‘Here comes the sun.”

The famous Beatles song from 1969 would make an apt theme for the solar energy boom sweeping across Wisconsin in 2016.

With the cost of harnessing the power of the sun finally becoming competitive with other energy sources, solar panels are popping up on roofs all over the Chippewa Valley, but perhaps the most noticeable developments are the huge, utility-operated solar gardens sprouting around the region.

“The state installed more solar in 2015 than ever before, and 2016 will beat that by a long shot,” said Tyler Huebner, executive director of the Madison-based renewable energy advocacy group Renew Wisconsin. ...