Family celebrates exactly 100 years working at We Energies

A lot has changed at our company since the day in 1960 when Glen Lokken started his job as a cadet engineer. Technology has improved, clothing and hairstyles have come in and out of style; even the company’s name changed from Wisconsin Electric to We Energies. But over that time, one thing has remained constant at the company — the presence of Glen or one of his children.

On June 18, 2019, the Lokken family celebrated exactly 100 years of total service at We Energies. Not approximately 100 years, not close to 100 years, but exactly 100 years. How do they know it’s exactly 100 years? They can thank Glen’s son David for that. David, a current We Energies employee, has been tracking his family’s work time; he even took into account the extra day in leap years.

Glen worked for 33 years before retiring in 1993. David started in 1982, and his sister Maura Royston started in 1989. They are both still working.

 “I call it the Lokken centennial. 100 years working at We Energies,” David said.

“It’s certainly not something you find much anymore,” Maura said. “We Energies has been good to us. I think we’ve been good to them, and it just was a fit, and for me personally, I got to do so many different things all at the same place. I didn’t have to go somewhere else.”

Glen still lives in the area and came out of retirement for one day. He joined his daughter and son for a special lunch to mark the 100-year milestone.

“It’s quite an accomplishment,” Glen said. “I didn’t expect it to ever happen.”

“All my success in life has stemmed from my dad having a great job and getting me a good start,” said David.

Innovative solar energy program unveiled

We are turning sunshine into solar power on numerous School District of New Berlin (SDNB) buildings and vacant land. This partnership with SDNB is the first project as part of our innovative Solar Now program. Construction kicked off this week in New Berlin, with other solar projects set to begin in the coming months.

The Solar Now program will create 35 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable energy that will benefit all of our customers.

“The Solar Now program is an important part of our generation reshaping for a clean energy future,” said Kevin Fletcher — president and CEO of WEC Energy Group, our parent corporation. “We are committed to cutting greenhouse gases and investing in cost-effective, zero-carbon, renewable generation.”

Fletcher formally unveiled the program at New Berlin Eisenhower Middle/High School. He  was joined by Representative Mike Kuglitsch (R – New Berlin), Senator David Craig (R – Big Bend), Superintendent Joe Garza of the School District of New Berlin and Matt Neumann Founder/CEO of SunVest, the Wisconsin-based company we contracted to construct Solar Now.

Nearly 8,000 solar panels are going up this summer at New Berlin Eisenhower Middle/High School, New Berlin West Middle/High School and Ronald Reagan Elementary. The panels will generate more than 2 MW of clean, renewable energy and provide a unique educational opportunity for students.

“We are proud to be the first participant in this innovative renewable energy program,” said Superintendent Garza. “Along with playing a role in the advancement of renewable energy, our students will have the unique opportunity to gain ‘real life’ knowledge about the production of solar energy for years to come.”

Through the Solar Now program, we will pay commercial, industrial, government and nonprofit customers like the School District of New Berlin to host solar panels on their roofs and property.

While the program is aimed at large commercial and government host customers, all of our customers will benefit. The solar energy that is produced will help reduce fuel costs to all customers while also maintaining fuel diversity and reducing carbon emissions.

“I applaud We Energies for this innovative program and community partnership. I’m proud my district will be home to the first panels and look forward to seeing Solar Now shine in other communities across the state,” said Rep. Kuglitsch.

Solar Now is a pilot program approved by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Despite only being a few months old, the program is already extremely popular. We have received interest from customers from across the state.

Outside of the benefits for customers, the Solar Now pilot will provide us with valuable insight into operating distributed solar generation; experience that can be used in the future on other projects.

Solar Now is part of a We Energies and WEC Energy Group plan to create a clean energy future. Working with industry partners, environmental groups and state leaders, WEC Energy Group has set a goal to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions 80% by 2050.

Peregrine falcon class of 2019

They grow up so fast! This year’s falcon chicks have ventured off into the world. But wherever they end up, they’ll take some Wisconsin pride along with them. Here’s a look at the newly-named class of 2019.

Oak Creek Power Plant
We Energies customers had the difficult task of choosing their favorite nicknames in honor of 10 past and current Bucks players. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Ray Allen came out on top for this high-flying honor — making the chicks The Beak Freak, Sky Hook and Ray Ray.

Valley Power Plant

At the power plant closest to Miller Park, our customers helped narrow down a field of 10 Brewers legends to the top two: Christian Yelich and Robin Yount. The two male chicks are named Yeli and Rockin' Robin.

Port Washington Generating Station
At Port Washington, we called in some help for the names. Steve Jagow, a longtime employee and friend of the peregrine restoration program, is retiring this year. He named one of the chicks Smokey in honor of his 94-year-old father, a World War II veteran. Lyno is named after Dan Lyons’ brother, who died of cancer. Lyons won the opportunity to name a falcon chick at a fundraiser for the Riveredge Nature Center. Portview Peep was named by a group of kids who attend Portview Church.

Weston Power Plant
The falcon chicks at Weston Power Plant were named by first-grade students from Marathon Area Elementary School. Each student who submitted a winning entry got a special certificate and a picture with the chick they helped to name. Weston is owned by our partner utility, Wisconsin Public Service.

This year’s class brings the total number of peregrines hatched, named and banded at We Energies power plants to 281.