Madison Gas and Electric Co. and Wisconsin Electric Power Co. on Aug. 1 filed a joint application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, seeking to acquire the remaining 150 MW of the Badger Hollow solar farm.

MGE will own 50 MW, and WEPCO will own 100 MW, according to an application filed with state regulators.

Badger Hollow is a 300-MW solar project being developed by Invenergy LLC in Iowa County, Wis. Construction of the project is expected to start later this year, according to the application.

The applicants propose to acquire and construct the second phase of the solar farm for approximately $194.9 million, including the capital cost of the solar facilities, transmission tie-in equipment and owners' costs.

If approved, the portion of the project that MGE and WEPCO acquire would begin generating electricity in 2021.

In May, MGE and Wisconsin Public Service Corp. received regulatory approval to own the other half of the Badger Hollow solar farm, with MGE owning 50 MW and WPS owning 100 MW.

The first phase of the project is expected to reach commercial operation by the end of 2020.

WEPCO, along with Wisconsin Gas LLC, does business as We Energies.

MGE is a subsidiary of MGE Energy Inc. We Energies and WPS are subsidiaries of WEC Energy Group Inc.

(Wisconsin PSC Case No. 5-BS-234)