The Sconi

The greater prairie-chicken, a species now threatened in Wisconsin, is at the center of a controversy involving the proposed Vista Sands Solar project in Portage County. The project, spanning 7,100 acres, would be the largest solar installation in Wisconsin and has raised concerns among conservationists and local residents.

A group of hunters and bird-watchers has voiced objections to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC), arguing that the project would disrupt a crucial habitat for the prairie-chickens. The Dane County Conservation League highlighted that avian predators could perch on new fencing around the site, posing a threat to the birds.

The scale of Vista Sands Solar elevates it from a "solar farm" to what some might call a solar plantation. Including an already-approved project nearby, approximately 10,000 acres of land—equivalent to the size of Racine or Stevens Point—would be covered with solar panels.

Conservation groups are advocating for a reduction in the project's footprint. The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology has called for buffer zones near state-owned land, while the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation suggests no panels should be within a mile of mating grounds. These groups support solar power but prefer it not encroach on critical habitats.

The state owns about 12,700 acres of prairie south of the planned site, and since the 1950s, the Dane County Conservation League has acquired 4,300 acres to preserve wildlife. Despite these efforts, Vista Sands Solar's size threatens their long-term commitment.

An underappreciated aspect of renewable energy projects like wind and solar is their substantial land use. Some neighbors have expressed concerns to the PSC about how such projects affect their properties and views. One landowner stated: “Just because we are in a rural area doesn’t mean we will have to adapt to it.”

Another neighbor objected to high-voltage transmission lines associated with the project. Developers later agreed to bury some lines but cannot do so for over 2 million panels.

Vista Sands Solar aims to generate 1,300 megawatts of electricity—a capacity slightly higher than Point Beach Nuclear Plant but spread over six times more land. However, utility-scale solar plantations in Wisconsin typically operate at only about 17% capacity due to weather conditions.

Wisconsin’s largest existing solar installation, Badger Hollow near Dodgeville, illustrates this point. With a capacity of 300 megawatts—about one-fourth that of Point Beach—it generated only about 3.6% as much power through early this year.

As solar power currently accounts for just 0.8% of Wisconsin utilities' electricity but aims to replace coal's 35%, more rural areas may see increased industrialization from solar panel installations.

Patrick McIlheran is Director of Policy at the Badger Institute. Permission to reprint is granted if properly cited.