Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy Resources
Over fall 2023 – spring 2024, Extension 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 is a final report to Portage County which includes the findings from our research and engagement process and outlines leverage points for community members and local government in the siting and development of large-scale solar projects.
View the Community Centered Solar Development Engagement Project – Portage County, WI Report.pdf (1.8MB)
As part of our engagement process, in spring of 2024, Extension hosted two community conversations in Portage County around the topic of “Community Centered Solar Development”. Community members had the opportunity to learn more about large scale solar development, the regulations in Wisconsin, and how they as community members can both navigate the shift to renewable energy and be involved. 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
UW-Madison Division of Extension initiated this research and community engagement process with input from a local advisory committee. This project was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office, under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231, in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Michigan State University and University of Michigan. The research was performed as part of the Community-Centered Solar Development project.
