Renewable Energy
The U.S. is undergoing a rapid energy transition to clean renewable energy as a major strategy to mitigate climate change. Rural communities in Wisconsin, which are well suited for large-scale solar or wind development, may experience major economic, environment, and social transitions when a large-scale renewable energy facilities are proposed for a community. Communities that do advance planning for renewable energy will be in a better position to navigate land use change.
Listed below are different resources that can be helpful to either local units of government, landowners considering lease agreements, and other community members who would like to learn more about solar energy in Wisconsin.
- Energy on Wisconsin home page, UW-Madison Division of Extension
- Energy on Wisconsin: Resources, UW-Madison Division of Extension
- Energy on Wisconsin: Funding Opportunities, UW-Madison Division of Extension
- Utility Scale Solar Farm FAQ.pdf (1.7 MB), Renew Wisconsin
- Utility Scale Solar Farm FAQ #2.pdf (1.7 MB), Renew Wisconsin
- Solar Energy System Development: Development and regulatory considerations for Wisconsin Local Units of Government.pdf (15.4 MB) , UW-Madison Division of Extension Local Government Center, Solar Energy Fact Sheet #24
- Are you Thinking about Leasing Your Farmland for Solar Development?” A Guide for Leasing Land for Solar Development.pdf (10.5 MB) , UW-Madison Division of Extension Local Government Center, Solar Energy Fact Sheet #23
- National Community Solar Partnership fact sheet.pdf (609 KB), US DOE
- Siting Utility-Scale Solar and Wind in Wisconsin: A Guide for Local Governments.pdf (4.4 MB), Great Plains Institute
- Wisconsin Solar Model Ordinance.pdf (1.4 MB), Great Plains Institute
- Grow Solar: Local Government Toolkit – Planning, Zoning, and Permitting.pdf (4.8 MB), Great Plains Institute
- Sample Community Benefits Agreements, Columbia University
Over fall 2023 – spring 2024, UW-Madison Extension specialists and educators (including Sharon Lezberg, Dane County Community Development Educator) took part in a research project, “Community-Centered Solar Development”, to design, execute, and document a process for inclusive, participatory, community-engaged planning for successfully siting community-centered large-scale solar development (CCSD) in Portage County. The following document includes the findings from the research and engagement process and outlines leverage points for community members and local government in the siting and development of large-scale solar projects.
