SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / WI / La Crosse

La Crosse County, WI — Solar Development Risk Assessment

Local solar ordinance barriers, board sentiment, and utility policies that affect development timelines and risk.

40.4
Risk Grade
Good
W WI; La Crosse (UWL); bluff country; limited agricultural solar land; local CUP
Assessment Snapshot
Population
120,784
State Rank
#18
Compliance
50%
Trajectory
45

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
None codified. No confirmed county-specific setbacks.
Zoning Mechanism
La Crosse County: CUP in Agricultural/Industrial district for projects <100 MW.
Acreage Caps
None codified.
Density Caps
None codified.
Spacing Rules
None codified.
Size Restrictions
None codified.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Generally favorable — university presence; scenic bluffs add friction
Basis for Assessment
W WI; La Crosse (UWL); bluff country; limited agricultural solar land; local CUP
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
D-lean board | 29 supervisors; partisan elections; 2-yr terms; see co.la-crosse.wi.us

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
MISO / Dairyland Power Cooperative (DPC) zone
Utilities
Xcel Energy (NSP), Dairyland Power
State Permitting Process
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.
State Incentives
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.

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
La Crosse County, southwest Wisconsin. Alliant Energy (WPL) and Wisconsin Gas serve. UW-La Crosse: institutional solar. City of La Crosse: municipal solar. Mississippi River bluffs limit ground-mount.
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
No confirmed Wisconsin PSC CPCN denials for La Crosse County. Wisconsin PSC holds siting authority for utility-scale; local municipalities have limited veto power under current law.

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Last verified: March 2026 | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes