MGE commits to 80% carbon reduction goal

Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) is committed to reducing its carbon emissions by at least 80% by 2030, the company said February 1. This represents a doubling of their previous goal of a 40% cut, announced in 2015.

The company is working towards achieving net-zero electricity by 2050, it said, in line with the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

"In 2019, MGE was one of the first utilities in the nation to commit to net-zero carbon by 2050,” said MGE CEO Jeff Keebler.

“Since announcing our carbon reduction goals, we have said that if we can move further faster by working with our customers, we will. We're committed to doing everything we can do today to advance our deep decarbonisation strategies as quickly and as cost-effectively as we can while maintaining our top-ranked electric reliability and our responsibility to those we serve."

MGE is in the process of a transition away from coal-fired generation. Last year, the company announced the early retirement of the Columbia Energy Center (CEC) by 2025, about 15 years ahead of schedule, and is replacing much of the coal-fired generation to be retired from CEC with renewable generation.

The company is also using natural gas as a bridge fuel on its path toward a net-zero carbon future, as an efficient backup to renewable energy. It plans to purchase 25 MW of highly-efficient gas-fired power generation from the West Riverside Energy Center, and potentially an additional 25 MW. The emissions from this power supply are expected to be only a tenth of those emitted at the Columbia coal plant, MGE said.