County committee urges state to give locals more say over large wind and solar projects

The Washington County Land Use and Planning Committee on June 26 voted unanimously to forward an advisory resolution asking the state legislature to give local elected bodies more authority over large wind and solar projects.

Supervisor Bailey, the resolution's author, told the committee the measure “asserts that local governments should have the authority to oversee the development of large solar and wind energy projects in Washington County and around Wisconsin.” She said the proposal is intended to protect farmland and ensure community input rather than oppose clean energy: “This resolution is not opposing clean energy production, but it must be done safely and respect for the land, resources, and people around it.”

Members questioned how much power local governments presently have and whether federal law or the Public Service Commission (PSC) can limit local zoning. Supervisor Mary raised historical examples of federal or state preemption and asked for clarification about how “large” would be defined. Bailey said the referenced bill in the packet would require developer approval from every affected city, village or town for projects of “15 megawatts or bigger” before the PSC could grant a certificate of authority.

Committee members expressed practical concerns about site impacts and life‑cycle costs. Mary asked who would be responsible for decommissioning at the end of a project's life and noted problems in other states with turbine blades and abandoned panels. Other supervisors emphasized property‑rights tradeoffs: turning farmland into energy fields can provide long contracts to landowners, and some speakers said that must be balanced with community goals.

Supervisor Krebs, who moved the motion to forward the resolution to the full county board, said staff follow‑up on the legal and procedural questions would be appropriate before a final county vote. Chair Dennis Gelling said the committee’s action is a way to make local voices heard and that staff will supply additional research when the item reaches the full board.

The committee approved the motion by voice vote and forwarded the advisory resolution to the full county board for consideration. No roll‑call tally was read into the minutes; the chair announced the committee was unanimous in favor.

What happens next: staff will gather additional detail on state and PSC processes and provide examples (panel counts per megawatt and land‑use footprints) to help supervisors anticipate the scale and legal limits of any new local authority.