Luck and Viola Solar, Energized December 2025
We’re pleased to introduce two new utility-scale solar projects in our local service area, one in Polk County and one in Burnett County, as part of the Wisconsin electric cooperative partnership with OneEnergy Renewables. Luck and Viola Solar were energized in December 2025.
Luck Solar is connected to the Luck Substation north of the village in the Town of Luck. The 13-acre site will have 5,200 panels. The 2.5 MW solar array will generate about 5,261,400 kWh of electricity annually, enough to power 635 homes.
Viola Solar is our first utility-scale solar project in Burnett County. It was constructed about five miles east of Polk-Burnett’s office between Siren and Hertel, near Viola Lake. The 2.5 MW solar array will generate about 4,938,000 kWh of electricity annually, enough to power 595 homes. The 13-acre site has 5,200 panels and is located next to the Hertel Substation to help relieve high summer demand in the area.
Local solar not only adds clean energy to the grid, it also provides financial and operational benefits for co-op members.
Local solar helps us become less reliant on the volatile energy market and aligns with our mission of providing reliable electricity at an affordable cost.
> Generating local power to benefit co-op members.
> Local solar improves reliability and offsets power market costs.
> Dual-purpose space improves soil health and provides habitat.
Luck and Viola Solar developed with co-op partnership for maximum return on investment
Ten Wisconsin electric cooperatives worked together to get the best volume price on solar energy for their members. Our co-ops formed a partnership with OneEnergy Renewables of Madison to develop and construct 13 utility-scale solar arrays, 37 megawatts of new solar generation, across Wisconsin. The arrays will generate enough electricity to power 9,650 homes for rural co-op members.
At Polk-Burnett, we coordinated the timing of two local solar projects, Luck and Viola Solar, with other cooperatives to get a better return on our investment for our members. The arrays on our system will generate 5 MW of peak energy, 2.5 MW in Polk County and 2.5 MW in Burnett County.
Construction was planned in each co-op community during 2025 - 2026. Each array was developed on property leased from local landowners, with panels that operate on a tracking system to follow the path of the sun for maximum power generation. Polk-Burnett and other Wisconsin co-ops in the partnership will purchase the solar energy at a fixed rate over the long term.
Cooperation among cooperatives is our guiding principle for this project. Wisconsin electric cooperatives are known for our work together to benefit members; for example, you often see co-ops assisting each other with storm recovery. This solar partnership will benefit our local members by providing clean power at a stable, long-term cost.
Wisconsin electric co-ops included in the 2025-26 OneEnergy Renewable partnership:
• Barron Electric Cooperative, Barron, 7.25 MW 
• Clark Electric Cooperative, Greenwood, 2.5 MW
• Dunn Energy Cooperative, Menomonie, 2.5 MW
• Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, Eau Claire, 2.5 MW
• Jump River Energy Cooperative, Ladysmith, 2.5 MW
• Oakdale Electric Cooperative, Tomah, 4.5 MW
• Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative, Centuria, 5 MW
• Riverland Electric Cooperative, Arcadia, 3 MW
• St. Croix Electric Cooperative, Hammond, 5 MW
• Vernon Electric Cooperative, Westby, 2.5 MW
OneEnergy Renewables brings experience and expertise
OneEnergy Renewables is a leading solar energy company in Wisconsin that offers expertise in site development, engineering, equipment purchasing, construction and operations. At the time of our construction, the Madison-based team had developed 31 projects across Wisconsin, and another 11 in adjacent states.
Eric Udelhofen, OneEnergy’s VP of development, said, “We are excited to partner with this group of electric cooperatives to help bring affordable, clean energy to rural Wisconsin. We look forward to delivering cost-effective, reliable electricity to serve your local communities.”
Restoring native prairie and pollinator habitat
Co-op solar arrays are dual-purpose spaces that provide renewable energy for members, as well as acres of important ecosystems. The ground under all 13 arrays in Wisconsin will be restored with pasture, prairie grasses and wildflowers, providing habitat for pollinators and healthy root systems to prevent soil erosion from wind and rain. Some sites will even be grazed by sheep in partnership with farmers.
Georgetown (2023) and SunTuria (2017) Solar
Polk-Burnett also worked with OneEnergy to develop Georgetown Solar northeast of Balsam Lake. It was energized in December 2023. The 2 MW array generates about 4.3 million kWh of electricity annually, enough to power 430 homes. The 12-acre site has 4,472 panels and is located next to the Bunyan Substation to help relieve high summer demand in the area. See our website to view solar energy output.
Polk-Burnett’s first solar array, SunTuria Solar, was dedicated in 2017 behind the co-op in Centuria. The 1.25 MW array generates power for about 200 homes. It is owned and operated by ENGIE North America, and the co-op purchases the solar energy output. Visit our website to see energy output and schedule a school or community tour.
