How Wisconsin Communities Can Protect Farmland Before Wind and Solar Construction Begins
Developers are rapidly proposing new solar and wind projects across rural Wisconsin. Because of this boom, local communities have just one window to protect their farmland and taxpayers. That critical moment happens before construction begins.
Jessica Bradish serves as the University of Wisconsin Extension Renewable Energy Specialist. She also works with Renewable Energy Siting and Engagement for Tomorrow (RESET).
Bradish recently spoke with the Midwest Farm Report about how RESET helps communities engage with developers. During a recent meeting in Osseo, residents raised major questions about community benefit agreements. “These are large-scale wind and solar developments that can take dozens, hundreds, and in some cases thousands of acres,” Bradish noted. “That’s a big land use change and a big change to the visual landscape.”
Securing Additional Community Benefits
Because the electricity sector generates significant revenue, Bradish emphasizes that communities hold real bargaining power. Towns can ask developers for extra benefits through additional contracts.
Potential developer investments include:
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- Funding local foundations.
- Repairing and upgrading roads.
- Investing in community infrastructure.
Planning for Decommissioning and Panel Disposal
Landowners also worry about what happens when a project ends. Most wind and solar installations last 25 to 30 years. However, clear rules for the back end do not exist yet.
“At the end of that, we’re not sure what they’re going to do with the panels,” Bradish warned. “One thing we want communities to negotiate for is panel disposal. The recycling industry for solar panels is still new. We need to develop that.”
Currently, Wisconsin lacks strong, standardized rules for land restoration. Therefore, towns must negotiate exact terms to return the acreage to active agricultural production.
Managing Construction and Emergency Costs
Daily disruptions also worry local residents. Construction often lasts a full year, bringing dust, noise, and heavy lights. To protect the environment, communities must require developers to manage topsoil, prevent soil compaction, and stop erosion.
Furthermore, these massive sites change local emergency needs. Towns should ask themselves:
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- Do we need extra emergency equipment?
- Do our firefighters need specialized training?
- Who pays for these new expenses?
Bradish insists that developers should cover these costs, alongside the eventual decommissioning expenses. Since Wisconsin has only built these modern sites since 2020, the state has not yet decommissioned a single one.
Get It in Writing During Permitting
Timing is everything. Once a local board approves and builds a solar site, the community loses all its leverage. Towns must secure every single promise during the initial permitting process.
“We want it all in writing,” Bradish stressed. “What happens if the company goes bankrupt? People talked a lot tonight about the sand mine hangover. Everybody I think has seen a project happen and then suddenly, they’re left with something, and who’s going to pay to clean it up? The community.”
Wind, solar, and natural gas currently rank as Wisconsin’s cheapest electricity sources. As a result, every county in the state could host a project soon. Local leaders can use RESET’s online resources to negotiate the best possible deals for their taxpayers.
