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Commission reopens Vista Sands solar docket to consider additional land, directs outreach to nonparticipating landowners
Summary
The commission granted Vista Sands Solar LLC’s petition to reopen docket 9820-CE-100 to consider about 374.6 acres of additional project area and ordered outreach to nonparticipating landowners.
The commission granted Vista Sands Solar LLC’s petition for limited reopening and modification of the final decision in docket 9820-CE-100, authorizing the addition of roughly 374.6 acres to the approved project area and directing staff to reopen the docket and solicit public comment. Commissioners also directed that nonparticipating landowners be added to the service list for the reopened proceeding to ensure potentially affected property owners receive notice.
Commissioner Nieto, explaining the petition, said Vista Sands seeks to add new land to provide “flexibility to site solar arrays farther from the areas of concern” raised by the Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation (WWF) about greater prairie-chicken leks and habitat near the Buena Vista wildlife area. Commissioner Nieto said the filing indicated support from WWF, Renew and Clean Wisconsin and that the parties had reached areas of agreement.
Commissioner Nieto also noted the petition did not clearly document communications with all potentially affected nonparticipating landowners and directed staff to add those landowners to the service list when issuing the order to reopen so outreach can be completed. Commissioners present agreed with the WEPA coordinator’s analysis and with reopening the docket to solicit comment; they approved the motion to grant the petition and issue an order to reopen and request comments.
The decision responds to requests by DNR and WWF for construction restrictions near greater prairie-chicken habitat; Vista Sands asserted the added land would allow arrays to be sited farther from sensitive areas. The docket will be reopened for additional comment and review; the supplemental environmental documentation (per the WEPA coordinator’s analysis) will be considered as part of the reopened proceeding.
Next steps: staff will issue an order to reopen the docket, add nonparticipating landowners to the service list, and solicit comments. The motion to reopen was made, seconded and approved in the open meeting.
