Public Service Commission approves Don Harvest solar project with conditions

The Public Service Commission on April 24, 2025, voted unanimously to grant Don Harvest Solar Energy LLC a certificate of public convenience and necessity to build a solar electric generation facility and battery energy storage system in Rock County, Wisconsin.

Commissioner Nieto, who led the discussion, said the project "meets all of the statutory requirements and will be voting to approve the project today," and described the company as a subsidiary of Invenergy Solar Development North America LLC. The approved project includes a 150 megawatt alternating-current solar photovoltaic facility, a 50 megawatt AC battery energy storage system (lithium-ion), and a 138 kV generator tie line to connect the project to the grid.

The commission's decision follows an environmental assessment under Wisconsin administrative rules and review under Wisconsin Statute section 196.491(3) and related PSC rules. Renew Wisconsin intervened in support of the project; the record included testimony estimating first-year health-care savings of roughly $510,000 to $1,100,000. The commission noted expected local economic benefits, including about 250 construction workers on-site during construction, roughly five full-time local employees during operation, approximately $750,000 in annual shared revenue utility aid payments to local taxing entities, and roughly $26,000,000 in aggregate payments over the project's anticipated life. The docket number for the CPCN is 9809-CE-100.

Commissioners reviewed a decision matrix containing discrete issues required by statute, including land-use compatibility, brownfield siting, design and location, route for the generator tie line, standard order conditions, and project-specific environmental protections. On land use, commissioners found the solar use "does not unreasonably interfere" with orderly land-use plans; commissioners authorized the applicant's primary gen-tie route as the preferred route and accepted the proposed and alternative array areas as meeting siting criteria.

Several contested technical conditions drew extended discussion. Commissioners agreed to keep a stray-voltage testing condition in the order, with supporters saying pre-construction baseline measurements would be useful if nearby dairy operations later reported stray-voltage issues. Winter soil-stabilization requirements generated disagreement: Commissioner Nieto supported including a winter stabilization plan, citing DNR exhibits showing erosion and sedimentation risks from winter construction and proposing a modification to require the plan "as practicable"; other commissioners favored a more site-specific approach (alternative 3) because Rock County's generally flat topography differs from hillier sites in other dockets. The commission resolved language changes so the condition applies consistent with the record and available site-specific evidence.

Commissioners credited collaboration between Don Harvest Solar and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on seed mixes and other resource protections. The commission approved project-specific language on seed mixes and modified wetland/waterway conditions to reflect that compromise.

The PSC record includes commitments from Don Harvest Solar to offer good-neighbor agreements to adjacent property owners, to negotiate local agreements with Rock County and the towns of Harmony and La Prairie, and to explore agricultural co-use such as sheep grazing. Staff and the applicant provided responses to hundreds of public comments during the environmental assessment and public-hearing process; the commission thanked intervenors and staff for participation in the record.

Formal action: Commissioner Nieto moved to approve construction of Don Harvest Solar consistent with the commission's discussion; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously ("Aye"). The commission directed that the CPCN be issued with the conditions discussed in the decision matrix and with the modifications described on the record.

Votes at a glance: earlier on the April 24 consent portion of the agenda the commission also approved routine meeting minutes for April 10, 2025; approved notices of investigation associated with agenda items 2 through 6; approved notices of proceeding associated with agenda items 7 through 12; and agreed to dismiss a complaint in docket 9300-PLI-135 by joint execution of a consent agreement assessing a forfeiture of $9,500 and a $950 surcharge to Diggers Hotline, and directing the respondent's excavation crew to attend an educational course under the cited state authority and pay associated fees. Those procedural actions were moved and approved on the record (recorded as "All in favor. Aye.").

The commission concluded its open meeting and noted the next open meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.