There is a big push across the state to bring more large-scale solar energy production to Wisconsin.
But the renewable energy push also faces some pushback as solar developments land in small towns and on rural Wisconsin’s farmlands.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm$:?46 a_`h[ E96C6 92G6 366? b_ ?6H D@=2C AC@;64ED AC@A@D65 @C 3C@F89E @?=:?6 DE2E6H:56[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 (:D4@?D:? !F3=:4 $6CG:46 r@>>:DD:@?] t:89E 2C6 @A6C2E:@?2= H9:=6 `` 2C6 F?56C 4@?DECF4E:@?] p?@E96C E9C66 92G6 366? 2AAC@G65 3J DE2E6 C68F=2E@CD] t:89E AC@;64ED 2C6 36:?8 4@?D:56C65 @C 6IA64E65 E@ 36 AC@A@D65 7@C DE2E6 2AAC@G2=D]k^Am
kAm%96 AC@;64ED 4@F=5 4C62E6 >@C6 E92? c[___ >682H2EED @7 D@=2C 6?6C8J A@H6C DE2E6H:56[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 !$r]k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 :? E96 7:CDE A2CE @7 E96 H2G6 96C6] (6 D9@F=5 D66 E9:D 2D 2 >2;@C @AA@CEF?:EJ[” D2:5 }:4< wJ==2[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 rFDE6C[ (:D4@?D:?\32D65 |:5H6DE6C? #6?6H23=6 t?6C8J pDD@4:2E:@?] %96 (:D4@?D:? 8C@FA AC@>@E6D D@=2C 2?5 C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J 8C@HE9 E9C@F89@FE E96 C68:@?]k^Am
kAm|2?J @7 E96 ?6H D@=2C AC@;64ED 2C6 AC@A@D65 7@C — @C 2C6 2=C625J =2?5:?8 — @? 28C:4F=EFC2= =2?5 :? CFC2= A2CED @7 E96 DE2E6]k^Am
kAmp?5 E96C6’D E96 CF3]k^Am
kAm$@>6 @7 E96 D@=2C 72C>D 7246 =@42= @AA@D:E:@? 2?5 4@?46C?D 7C@> ?6:893@CD 2?5 @E96CD :? E9@D6 4@>>F?:E:6D H9@ H@CCJ 23@FE :>A24ED @7 7:6=5D @7 D@=2C A2?6=D 2?5 @E96C C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J 6BF:A>6?E H:== 92G6 @? AC@A6CEJ G2=F6D[ 6DA64:2==J 25;246?E AC@A6CE:6D]k^Am
kAm%96C6 2C6 2=D@ H@CC:6D 23@FE 492?8:?8 E96 =2?5D42A6 @7 (:D4@?D:?’D 86?6C2E:@?2= 72C>=2?5D] }6:893@CD H@?56C H92E <:?5 @7 D9@CE 2?5 =@?8\E6C> :>A24ED 2 =2C86 D@=2C 72C> >:89E 92G6 @? @E96C =2?5\FD6D — :?4=F5:?8 72C>:?8 — 2D H6== 2D E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 6I:DE:?8 64@DJDE6>D]k^Am
kAm“r92?86 :D 2=H2JD F?72>:=:2C[” D2:5 %6DD r2CC[ H9@ D6CG6D @? E96 r@=F>3:2 r@F?EJ q@2C5 @7 $FA6CG:D@CD[ H96C6 EH@ ?6H D@=2C AC@;64ED 92G6 366? AC@A@D65 @? 72C>=2?5]k^Am
kAmr@>>F?:E:6D 2C6 25;FDE:?8 E@ EC2?D:E:@?:?8 =2?5 E92E 92D 366? 72C>65 7@C 564256D W2?5 :? D@>6 :?DE2?46D 46?EFC:6DX[ r2CC D2:5]k^Am
kAm!2CE @7 E96 492==6?86 :D E92E >@DE @7 E96 2AAC@G2=D 7@C D@=2C 2?5 @E96C C6?6H23=6 AC@;64ED D:E :? |25:D@? H:E9 E96 !$r[ D96 D2:5] %96 DE2E6 6?6C8J C68F=2E@C 9@=5D >@DE @7 E96 2AAC@G2= 42C5D 7@C E96 ?6H D@=2C 72C>D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 4FCC6?E DE2E6 =2HD 2?5 C68F=2E:@?D]k^Am
kAm“(6 2E E96 4@F?EJ =6G6= =2C86=J 92G6 @FC 92?5D E:65 :? E6C>D @7 AC24E:42= 2AAC@G2=D[” D2:5 r2CC]k^Am
kAmr@F?E:6D 2?5 >F?:4:A2=:E:6D 92G6 D@>6 K@?:?8[ =2?5\FD6 2?5 A6C>:EE:?8 2AAC@G2=D :? E96:C AFCG:6H :?4=F5:?8 D6E324<D 7C@> 25;246?E AC@A6CE:6D :?4=F5:?8 72C>D]k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 E@ G6CJ 42C67F==J A=2? 7@C =2?5 FD6[” r2CC D2:5] $96 H2?ED E@ 6IA=@C6 >@C6 =@42= A2CE:4:A2E:@? 2?5 C@=6D :? D@=2C 56G6=@A>6?E 2AAC@G2=D H:E9 E96 DE2E6]k^Am
kAm(:D4@?D:? :D DE:== A=2J:?8 D@>6 42E49FA 4@>A2C65 E@ @E96C DE2E6D H:E9 E96 EC2?D:E:@? 7C@> 7@DD:= 7F6=D W2?5 4@2=\7:C65 A@H6C A=2?EDX E@ C6?6H23=6 D@FC46D[ wJ==2 D2:5]k^Am
kAm(:D4@?D:? C2?<D abC5 2>@?8 &]$] DE2E6D 7@C D@=2C 6?6C8J 86?6C2E:?8 `]eT @7 E96 DE2E6’D 6=64EC:4:EJ[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 $@=2C t?6C8J x?5FDEC:6D pDD@4:2E:@?] %96 :?5FDECJ 8C@FA AC@;64ED c[acb |( @7 D@=2C A@H6C E@ ;@:? (:D4@?D:?’D A@H6C 8C:5 :? E96 ?6IE 7:G6 J62CD — ``E9 >@DE 2>@?8 &]$] DE2E6D] qJ 4@>A2C:D@?[ D@=2C 6?6C8J 86?6C2E6D af]bT @7 r2=:7@C?:2’D A@H6C] %96 v@=56? $E2E6 C2?<D 7:CDE :? $txp’D D@=2C C2?<:?8D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mt?828:?8 @C 6?C28:?8 E96 =@42=Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 H2G6 @7 ?6H D@=2C 2?5 H:?5>:== 72C>D 2?5 @E96C C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J AC@5F4E:@? :D :?4C62D:?8 24C@DD E96 ?2E:@? 2D DE2E6D :>A@D6 2?5 FE:=:E:6D 6>32C< @? 6>:DD:@?D 8@2=D E92E =@@< E@ 4FE @C 6=:>:?2E6 4@2=\7:C65 A=2?ED] %96C6 2C6 2=D@ 7656C2= E2I 3C62<D 2?5 @E96C 8@G6C?>6?E :?46?E:G6D 7@C C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J 56G6=@A>6?E 2?5 AC@5F4E:@? :? E96 x?7=2E:@? #65F4E:@? p4E 2?5 @E96C >62DFC6D A2DD65 3J r@?8C6DD 2?5 E96 q:56? 25>:?:DEC2E:@?]k^Am
kAmwJ==2 D2:5 =@42= 6?8286>6?E 2?5 =:DE6?:?8 E@ 4@>>F?:EJ 4@?46C?D 2C6 6DD6?E:2=]k^Am
kAm“}@E 2== 56G6=@A6CD 2C6 4C62E65 6BF2==J[” wJ=:2 D2:5] “$@>6 56G6=@A6CD 2C6 C62==J 8@@5 2E H@C<:?8 H:E9 E96 ?6:893@CD] ~E96CD H:== 3F:=5 D@=2C C:89E FA E@ E96 =:?6 @7 E96 ?6:893@C:?8 AC@A6CE:6D 2?5 H:== 3@I E96> :?] xE’D ;FDE 23@FE E96 =@42= 4@>>F?:EJ 92G:?8 2 D2J] %96 AC@46DD @7 =@42= 6?8286>6?E :D :>A@CE2?E]”k^Am
kAm|@DE D@=2C 72C>D 6?E2:= =@?8\E6C> =2?5 =62D6D 36EH66? 72C>6CD[ FE:=:E:6D 2?5 @E96C AC@G:56CD] %9@D6 42? C2?86 36EH66? ad 2?5 d_ J62CD]k^Am
kAmwJ==2 2?5 @E96C D@=2C 25G@42E6D D2J E96 D@=2C 56G6=@A>6?ED 2==@H 72C>65 D@:= E@ 962= 2?5 C686?6C2E6 7C@> J62CD @7 FD6 2?5 76CE:=:K6CD] %96 C6G6?F6 7C@> E96 AC@;64ED 2=D@ 2==@H 72>:=J 72C>D E@ C6>2:? :? E9@D6 72>:=:6D]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 D@=2C =62D6D 7@C 72C>=2?5 42? E@E2= 2D >F49 2D S`[___ A6C 24C6 A@E6?E:2==J @776C:?8 8C62E6C J:6=5D E92? 4C@AD]k^Am
kAmwJ==2 D2:5 E96C6 2C6 2=D@ 7:?2?4:2= 36?67:ED 7@C =@42= ;FC:D5:4E:@?D G:2 E2I C6G6?F6D 86?6C2E65 3J 4@?DECF4E:@? 2?5 E96? 6?6C8J AC@5F4E:@?] “x7 J@F 2C6 2 =@42= ;FC:D5:4E:@?[ :E’D 8@:?8 E@ D9@C6 FA D@>6 AC@A6CEJ E2I C6G6?F6] xE 7:==D FA E96 3F586E 9@=6D[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmqFE r2CC D2:5 D<6AE:4D 2E E96 =@42= =6G6= ?665 E@ D66 AC@@7 :? E96 AF55:?8 :? E6C>D @7 :>A24ED 2=@?8 H:E9 2==6G:2E:?8 4@?46C?D 23@FE 56EC:>6?ED E@ AC@A6CEJ G2=F6D 2?5 (:D4@?D:?’D 28C:4F=EFC2= 96C:E286 2D @?6 @7 p>6C:42’D 3C62532D<6ED]k^Am
kAm“x? 255:E:@? E@ 7@@5[ E96 H@C=5 ?665D 6?6C8J[” D2:5 r2CC H9@ D2:5 D96 92D D66? “>:?:>2= :>A24ED” @? DFCC@F?5:?8 =2?5 G2=F6D]k^Am
Invenergy’s renewable energy manager, Dan Litchfield, shows a single solar panel outside of the company’s office in Cobb on Dec. 18, 2018. These panels are part of a 3,500-acre solar project, one of the largest solar farms on cropland in the nation.
File/Emily Hamer/WCIJ/
kAms@? u6C36C[ 2 3@2C5 >6>36C H:E9 E96 (:D4@?D:? $:6CC2 r=F3[ D2:5 D@=2C 56G6=@A6CD 2?5 FE:=:E:6D ?665 E@ 92G6 =@42= >6DD6?86CD H9@ 42? E2=< E@ C6D:56?ED 2?5 ?6:893@CD 23@FE E96:C 4@?46C?D 2?5 E@ 4@>32E ?682E:G6 A6C46AE:@?D]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 :D 2 =@E @7 >:D:?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE =2?5 G2=F6D[” u6C36C D2:5] “x7 J@F 92G6 D@>6@?6 7C@> E96 @FED:56 J@F >2J ?@E 92G6 D@>6@?6 2D 67764E:G6 :? 6?828:?8 H:E9 C6D:56?ED]”k^Am
kAmu6C36C D2:5 E96 D@=2C AC@;64ED H:== 96=A (:D4@?D:? >@56C?:K6 :ED 6?6C8J :?7C2DECF4EFC6 2?5 42E49 FA H:E9 @E96C DE2E6D :?4=F5:?8 x==:?@:D[ H9:49 :D 6>32C<:?8 @? 2 >@C6 AC@8C6DD:G6 6?6C8J A2E9[ 2?5 x@H2[ H96C6 E96C6 2C6 >@C6 H:?5>:== AC@;64ED]k^Am
kAm“(:D4@?D:? :D =288:?8 369:?5[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp==:2?E’D AFD9k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 DE2E6’D C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J AFD9 :?4=F56D |25:D@?\32D65 FE:=:EJ p==:2?E t?6C8J[ H9:49 AC@G:56D 6=64EC:4:EJ E@ 4FDE@>6CD :? (:D4@?D:? 2?5 x@H2]k^Am
kAmp==:2?E DA@<6D>2? %@?J !2=6D6 D2:5 E96 FE:=:EJ 92D `a FE:=:EJ D42=6 D@=2C AC@;64ED DE2E6H:56 FA 2?5 CF??:?8 @C :? E96 H@C<D] %9@D6 H:== 4C62E6 `[___ >682H2EED @7 6=64EC:4:EJ <6J E@ E96 FE:=:EJ’D C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J 36?49>2C<D— :?4=F5:?8 E96 6=:>:?2E:@? @7 4@2= 3J a_c_]k^Am
kAm“x? (:D4@?D:?[ C62==J E96 4@C6 @7 E92E A=2? 92D C62==J C6G@=G65 2C@F?5 E96 56G6=@A>6?E @7 D@=2C[” !2=6D6 D2:5]k^Am
kAmp==:2?E C646?E=J 4@>A=6E65 E96 d_\>H }@CE9 #@4< $@=2C !C@;64E :? #@4< r@F?EJ]k^Am
kAm%96 }@CE9 #@4< AC@;64E 6I6>A=:7:6D E92E E96 6?6C8J AC@5F4E:@? 36?67:ED 2D H6== 2D E96 =2?5\FD6 :>A24ED] %96 AC@;64E 92D 4=@D6 E@ `a_[___ D@=2C A2?6=D @? cfb 24C6D W4=@D6 E@ adc A6C 24C6X] xE H:== AC@5F46 6?@F89 A@H6C 7@C `b[___ 9@>6D[ Se >:==:@? :? =@42= E2I C6G6?F6 27E6C 4C62E:?8 4@?DECF4E:@? 2?5 @E96C ;@3D]k^Am
kAmp==:2?E 2=D@ 92D 2 d_\>H D@=2C AC@;64E :? s642EFC :? vC66? r@F?EJ 2?5 ed\>H D@=2C 72C> :? q6=@:E] %9@D6 AC@;64ED H:== 3C:?8 2D >2?J 2D agd[___ D@=2C A2?6=D @? h__ 24C6D @7 =2?5] %96 FE:=:EJ D2JD E9@D6 EH@ AC@;64ED H:== AC@G:56 A@H6C E@ 2D >2?J 2D b_[___ 9@>6D]k^Am
kAm“%9:D :D 23@FE 56=:G6C:?8 E96 C6=:23=6[ 4@DE 67764E:G6 6?6C8J E92E @FC 4FDE@>6CD ?665 2?5 E92E 36?67:ED =@42= 4@>>F?:E:6D[” !2=6D6 D2:5]k^Am
kAmqFE ?@E 6G6CJ@?6 :D @? 3@2C5 H:E9 E96 EC2?D:E:@?:?8 @7 (:D4@?D:?’D C@==:?8[ D@>6E:>6D :5J==:4 72C>=2?5 :?E@ C@HD FA@? C@HD @7 D@=2C A2?6=D]k^Am
kAm• k6>m!2CE EH@ @7 E9:D D6C:6D H:== =@@< 2E E96 :>A24ED D@=2C 8C@HE9 H:== 92G6 @? 72C>=2?5 2?5 28C:4F=EFC6 :? E96 DE2E6D]k^6>mk^Am
kAmk6>m• %96 E9:C5 2?5 7:?2= :?DE2==>6?E H:== 6I2>:?6 E96 D@FC46D @7 D<6AE:4:D> 2?5 @AA@D:E:@? E@ C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J AC@;64ED[ 2?5 9@H E92E D<6AE:4:D> >:89E :>A24E CFC2= 2?5 D>2== E@H? 4@>>F?:E:6D E9C@F89@FE E96 DE2E6]k^6>mk^Am
