Committee approves land lease for 30-acre solar array after debate over wellhead risks

The Finance & Property Committee voted to approve a land lease and solar easement with Great Lakes Distributed Energy LLC for placement of solar facilities on roughly 30 acres of city-owned land, a decision reached after extended discussion about wellhead protection, lease terms and community opposition.

Committee members debated whether the proposed site — described in the staff materials as parcels 3414515 and 3414520 — should be used for a long-term lease. One committee member said public feedback had been largely negative, stating, “I’ve had people call, email… it’s been about 95% against it and maybe 5% for it,” and concluded, “I’m not for it.” The member also raised concerns about the lease length and potential loss of control if the developer leaves or is acquired.

Stanley Minnick of 1 Energy Renewables, the developer representative, addressed technical and contractual concerns. “We only get paid when we produce power,” Minnick said, clarifying that revenue to the company is tied to actual production. He also described the panels as silicon, monocrystalline panels encased in glass with aluminum frames, and said they are not thin-film panels that use cadmium.

The city’s water superintendent said he could find no scientific data showing this type of solar array causes groundwater contamination and pointed to monitoring and reports used in vetting. He contrasted that with evidence cited in the city’s Wellhead Protection Plan that links subdivisions and certain developments to nitrate concerns in groundwater.

Commissioner Kevin Fangman, speaking to the committee, said in-state examples show arrays have been installed over wellhead protection zones for about eight years without reported issues. “Our choices at this point for this piece of city owned property is put an array on it or do nothing,” Fangman said, and urged members with doubts to contact the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for additional review.

The chair made a motion to approve the land lease and solar easement; the motion was seconded and called for a vote. The transcript records an opposing vote from a member identified as Nate and also records the clerk announcing the motion passed (the clerk’s announcement recorded passage to be considered and advanced to the Common Council for final consideration next week).

Also under the same closed-session agenda, the committee approved two unrelated land purchases: Parcel 0700635 (approximately 16.4 acres) along Highway W, described as a potential long-range site for a future water plant, and two small parcels from Wood County (parcels 3414474 and 3414847, together approx. 0.81 acres) for municipal purposes.

The committee’s action on the solar lease and the two land acquisitions will be forwarded to the Common Council for final consideration, per the committee’s announcements.

The meeting adjourned at 7:15 PM.