Vernon Electric Co-op's new building.

The headquarters for Vernon Electric Cooperative has moved from its downtown Westby facility to a new facility on the edge of Westby. The new building is approximately 50,000 square feet and combines the main office, warehouse and pole yard all in one spot. The new building is bigger than the old building to accommodate the growth the cooperative has experienced over the years. The new site also offers the opportunity of building expansion, if needed in future years.

At the old site Vernon Electric had no room for expansion and was operating out of three separate facilities spread around Westby. The main office, on Main St. served as office space and small vehicle parking. The plant garage, on Melby St. served as a warehouse for large trucks, linemen’s locker room, repair shop and small parts and equipment storage. The main warehouse was located on Black River Ave. and served as large vehicle storage and large equipment storage. The pole yard was attached to that building as well.

The new office incorporates a renewable energy source for heating and cooling by utilizing a geothermal heat pump system. This type of system uses the stored solar energy of the earth to heat and cool the building for a fraction of the energy and cost of traditional methods. The building also incorporates energy efficient features such as passive-solar heating through window and building orientation, a white colored roof to reflect solar radiation in the summer, energy efficient lighting and controls to automatically turn lights on and off when needed.

Construction began in September, 2008 and was completed June 25, 2009. The location of the new site is on the north-west corner of the intersection of State Hwy. 27, Cty. Rd. P and Saugstad Rd.

Vernon Electric’s vacant buildings are for sale and details can be found at Buildings For Sale

Vernon Electric Cooperative has been providing service since 1937 and distributes electric power to approximately 11,000 members in rural Vernon County and parts of Monroe, Juneau, Sauk, Richland, Crawford , La Crosse Counties and the Village of Readstown.

Architect: Architectural Design, Menominie, WI; General Contractor: Wieser Brothers, LaCrescent, MN

• 8-21-2008 Special Board Meeting to approve building project
• 8-27-2008 Ground breaking

• 9-11-2008 Start of Earthwork

• 9-25-2008 Building Pad and Footings

• 10-06-2008

• 10-16-2008 Warehouse walls up.

• 10-22-2008 Office footings done.

• 10-28-2008 Geothermal heating & cooling loops installed.

• 11-6-2008 Temporary power installed. Work begins on office records, IT room and parking lot.

• 11-11-2008

• 11-18-2008 Installation of warehouse roof insulation and start of wall construction for office.

• 12-02-2008

• 12-17-2008

• 12-29-2008 Office exterior wall being completed.

• 1-5-2009 Office roof installation begins.

• 1-16-2009 Interior walls, floor and window work begins.

• 2-25-2009 Main entrance

• 5-19-2009 Parking lot and flag pole being installed

• Building Completed and Open 6-29-09