Geronimo Power has started work on Portage Solar, a 250-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic plant in Portage County, integrated into the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) market. The project adds to Apple River Solar, launched earlier this year in Polk County, bringing to 500 MW the solar capacity currently under development by the company in Wisconsin. According to the developer, Portage Solar will be able to power more than 40 000 households. Commercial operation is expected by the end of 2026.
Investment and economic impact
Geronimo Power estimates Portage Solar’s direct impact at more than $73 mn over the first twenty years of operation. The figure includes $24 mn in tax revenue for Portage County and host municipalities. These new streams add to the benefits of Apple River Solar, pushing the company past the $100 mn cumulative economic-impact threshold in the state. The company notes that the amounts do not include procurement spending with local suppliers during construction.
Local authorities will receive the first payments once the plant is commissioned, bolstering budgets traditionally dependent on residential property tax. Portage County said all funds will be allocated to roads and emergency services. Spending on accommodation, catering and transport during the build phase will generate additional local tax revenue. Geronimo Power stresses that the facility does not require any tax-incentive programme or public guarantee.
Construction partners and jobs
Geronimo Power has awarded engineering, procurement and construction to Burns & McDonnell, a Kansas City-based company active on several large-scale solar projects. The contract calls for about three hundred jobs at the peak of activity. All positions will be filled by unionised labour from Wisconsin, in line with the agreement signed with local unions. “We rely on local expertise to ensure site quality and safety,” said Joe Ibrahim, Vice-President Construction at Geronimo Power, quoted by PR Newswire on July 15.
Burns & McDonnell will oversee the supply chain, including delivery of photovoltaic modules, inverters and transformers to the site. The company expects wages paid during construction to translate into further regional spending. Recruitment will begin in the fourth quarter of 2025, once earth-moving permits are issued. Information sessions for local subcontractors are scheduled in nearby county seats.
Commercial agreements and outlook
Portage Solar benefits from a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) covering its entire output for twenty years. Geronimo Power has not disclosed the offtaker’s identity but says it is an energy-consuming company whose growth depends on data centres. Grid connection to MISO’s high-voltage network is being finalised after impact studies carried out by American Transmission Company. The developer states that construction timelines will remain aligned with the network operator’s schedule.
Beyond injected energy and tax receipts, Geronimo Power will allocate $1.25 mn to a charitable fund dedicated to local causes throughout the project’s lifetime. The mechanism, already deployed on other company parks in the Midwest, finances scholarships and equipment for fire services. Geronimo Power, a subsidiary of National Grid Renewables, currently manages more than three gigawatts of solar and wind assets in operation or under construction across the United States. It believes Portage Solar will further diversify the economic base of rural Wisconsin communities and strengthen regional supply security.
