Walworth County, WI — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No Moratorium

None codified. No confirmed county-specific setbacks.

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

Mixed — Lake Geneva resort identity adds friction; agricultural portions receptive

SE WI; Lake Geneva resort area; active solar in agricultural areas; resort identity adds friction; local CUP

Stable

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.

Darien Solar Energy Center | 250 MW | Invenergy / WEC Energy Group (We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, MGE) | Walworth and Rock Counties | Operational early 2025 (Power Engineering Mar 2025) | 600,000+ solar panels. | Whitewater Solar | 150 MW | Jefferson and Walworth Counties | PSC approved Sep 25 2025 (RENEW Wisconsin) | $259M economic activity; $900K+/yr utility-aid payments.

No confirmed county CUP denial on record for Walworth County as of Mar 2026. Wisconsin solar regulated at town/county level; no central denial database. Contact Walworth County Planning for recent history.