By Blake Jackson
Vista Sands, a massive solar farm slated for Portage County, Wisconsin, received the green light from the Public Service Commission.
This project, poised to be one of the nation's most powerful solar farms, is set to generate nearly 1.3 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy enough to power approximately 200,000 Wisconsin homes.
“Today the PSC approved the biggest step toward curbing Wisconsin’s carbon emissions in the state’s history. Deployment of clean energy on this scale will do more to advance state energy policy than has any construction project in Wisconsin to date,” says Clean Wisconsin General Counsel Katie Nekola. “This is significant because Wisconsin cannot meet its carbon reduction goals or contain customer costs without acknowledging and indeed embracing the need to invest in the least-cost, cleanest generation available. Clean Wisconsin submitted testimony to the PSC about the many benefits of the project and celebrates this incredible victory for clean air and energy.”
Clean Wisconsin's analysis highlights the project's potential to benefit Portage County's water resources. By taking 56 high-capacity wells offline and reducing the use of millions of pounds of fertilizer and thousands of gallons of insecticide, Vista Sands could help replenish depleted aquifers and mitigate water contamination in the Central Sands region.
“We don’t often think of solar farms as protecting our water, but that’s exactly what will happen with a project like Vista Sands,” says Clean Wisconsin Water and Agriculture Program Director Sara Walling. “It represents an opportunity to finally make real progress on critical water issues that have plagued the Central Sands for years.”
The PSC's decision commends both Vista Sands and local communities for their collaborative approach in balancing the project's development with the protection of the Greater Prairie Chicken.
Beyond its environmental benefits, Vista Sands will also bring significant economic advantages to the region. The project is expected to generate $6.5 million annually for local towns and counties, funding essential services like road repairs, emergency equipment, park improvements, and community development.
Photo Credit: istock-shansekala
Categories: Wisconsin, Energy