At the beginning of this legislative session, Representative Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City) and I introduced legislation to require local elected officials and municipalities to sign off on large-scale wind and solar projects before they are approved by the Public Service Commission (PSC). After more than a year of asking, Senate Bill (SB) 3 was finally given a hearing on March 10.

Dozens of citizens from across Wisconsin showed up to testify on the bill, including a group from southwestern Wisconsin. During my tenure in the legislature, I have rarely seen this level of turnout for a public hearing. It was great to see such strong support for a bill that I authored after many residents of southwestern Wisconsin shared their concerns about the state’s process of approving large wind and solar projects.

This bill is necessary because local officials are totally shut out of the decision-making process when it comes to wind and solar projects. In contrast, data center decisions are rightly made at the local level. Several communities across the state have rejected data center proposals because of decisions made by local officials, including one in DeForest in Dane County. When it comes to industrial wind and solar projects, local officials do not have the same level of control.

Under current state law, the unelected PSC is responsible for granting a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for proposed large wind and solar facilities without any approval from local officials. This has been law since 2009 when Wisconsin Act 40 took away the ability for municipalities to regulate wind projects under Governor Jim Doyle.

SB 3 would give local officials a seat at the table in these discussions by requiring all municipalities where the proposed project would be located to pass a resolution approving or rejecting the proposed project before it goes to the PSC. This change in the process would allow neighbors and community members to weigh in on the local level before the PSC makes their decision.

I am grateful that we were finally able to get a hearing on this important legislation. Unfortunately, it is too late in the legislative session for this bill to become law. I appreciated those who spoke at the public hearing and were able to tell personal stories that highlight the importance of local control and make a strong case for giving local officials a voice in the process. I will introduce this legislation again next session, and hope to have a more receptive audience in the legislature.

If you need assistance with any state-related matters, please call my team at the State Capitol – 608-266-0703 – or email me – Sen.Marklein@legis.wisconsin.gov. My team is ready and willing to help navigate your state government, clear obstacles, and receive your input.