Council approves land lease for WWLC solar array after split vote

The Wisconsin Rapids Common Council voted 5–3 on Jan. 20 to approve a land lease and solar easement with Great Lakes Distributing Energy for a Water Works & Lighting (WWLC) before-the-meter solar facility.

Alderman Ryan Austin, who introduced the proposal, argued the project would deliver municipal savings and economic benefits for WWLC ratepayers. "If WWLC recommends this project, it deserves serious consideration," Austin said, and he noted the array is designed to be screened, storm-resistant and insured. Austin also stated that "the array could generate 17,000,000 in energy savings," as reported in the meeting transcript (the transcript did not specify the units or timeframe for that figure).

Opponents on the council raised concerns about siting the array near municipal water infrastructure. Alderman Tim said the project would place "about 40 acres of solar panels going over top of 2 wellheads that are 40% of our city water" and argued the city should protect those wellhead sites. Alderman Baderman said the proposal depends on receiving tax incentives and noted an apparent Jan. 31 deadline for those incentives: "it's not viable if we don't receive ... tax incentives by January 31," he said during debate. Both Tim and Baderman urged further evaluation and alternative sites.

An unidentified council member and other speakers said they had contacted officials in other municipalities with similar installations and reported no water-quality or property-value impacts from those earlier projects. The unnamed speaker described calling municipal staff in several towns and said most told them they "forget their array is even there" and that arrays saved municipalities from having to buy power elsewhere.

Council members cast recorded votes after debate; the chair announced the motion carried 5–3. The motion was made by Alderman Austin and seconded by Plouis, as recorded in the meeting minutes. The council did not detail in the hearing the specific timing for lease execution or an expected commercial operation date; those implementation details were not specified in the transcript.

The council's approval authorizes the land lease and solar easement described in the meeting packet; according to discussion at the meeting, the project partner mentioned included 1 Energy and company names referenced in public remarks included Delta Vault Solar and Great Lakes Distributing Energy. The meeting record shows continuing disagreement over site suitability and fiscal incentives; no subsequent administrative action date was announced at the meeting.