Dane County, WI — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No Moratorium

Solar setbacks tied to accessory structure setback per zoning district (county model ordinance 2024 amendment); ground-mounted follow principal structure setbacks in agriculture zones

Dane County: CUP in Agricultural/Industrial district for projects <100 MW.

Very favorable — Madison progressive; active solar market; strong university influence

Madison/UW-Madison; progressive university city; active solar market; local CUP; PSC for ≥100 MW; strong policy support

Improving

PSC of Wisconsin has siting authority for wind/solar ≥100 MW (Wis. Stat. §196.491). Projects <100 MW: local CUP/SUP under county/town zoning governs. Local restrictions on wind systems must meet one of 3 conditions: (1) public health/safety; (2) not significantly increase cost/decrease efficiency; (3) allows comparable alternative. Local solar restrictions face similar reasonableness standard. No statewide preemption below 100 MW threshold — strong local control. MISO interconnection territory statewide.

Wisconsin RPS: 10% renewable by 2015 (met — weakest in region). Focus on Energy program: commercial/industrial rebates for solar ($150-450/kW for ≤25 kW). Property tax exemption: Wis. Stat. §70.111(18) — solar systems exempt from property tax assessment. Sales tax exemption: Wis. Stat. §77.54(57m) — solar equipment purchases exempt. Wisconsin Green Energy program: voluntary renewable program through WPS, MGE, We Energies. Alliant WPL (WI) has deployed ~1,089 MW solar by 2024; Vista Sands (1,315 MW Portage Co.) approved June 2025 — largest WI solar project. Utility: We Energies (WEC) serves SE WI/Milwaukee; WPS (WEC) serves NE WI; Alliant Energy (WPL) serves central/southern WI; MGE serves Madison metro; Xcel NSPW serves far NW WI; Dairyland Power Coop and WPPI Energy serve rural areas.

Koshkonong Solar Energy Center (300 MW, Invenergy → We Energies/WPS/MGE, PSC approved Apr 2022, SE Dane County) | Kegonsa Research Campus Solar (2.25 MW, Alliant Energy/UW, 2024, Town of Dunn)

Significant community opposition to Koshkonong Solar Energy Center west of Cambridge. Village of Cambridge opposition: land needed for housing; solar would 'landlock' the community. Residents: project will 'forever change the rural landscape around Cambridge.' Merchant plant PSC approval process sidestepped full utility cost/need review — opponents say 'utilities exploiting legal loophole.' Sources: Journal Times Sep 23 2025