Updated 7/8/25 @ 1:30 p.m. to add a reader’s comments in opposition to the project.
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission [PSC] will hold two public hearings in Whitewater this Wednesday, July 9 regarding the proposal by Whitewater Solar, LLC to construct a massive “solar farm” in the Town of Cold Spring in Jefferson County and the Towns of Whitewater and LaGrange in Walworth County. The project would transfer the generated electricity into the City of Whitewater to the cogeneration plant on County U that is owned by WE Energies and a sister corporation. The PSC, which appears to have the sole authority to determine the fate of the project, other than possible legal challenges, refers to it by Docket 9828-CE-100.
The hearings, to be conducted by PSC Administrative Law hJudge Michael Newmark, will be held at the Community Engagement Center [CEC], 1260 W. Main Street, Rooms 108-109, on July 9, 2025 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. The CEC is the building immediately to the east of Walmart that formerly housed Sentry Foods. Citizens may participate in or observe the hearing in person, Join by video, or Join By Phone (if no internet): +1 312 626 6799, and enter 809 513 2930# (Meeting ID). Alternatively, by the deadline of Friday, July 11, the public may submit a comment online using File a Comment
Extensive information related to the project may be found at this link. For example, clicking on “documents” and “comments” provides all of the written comments that have been submitted, both for and against the project. There are a large number of comments from a wide variety of perspectives, reflecting considerable thought and passion on both sides.
The Whitewater Banner does not have a position on the Whitewater Solar project. However, we believe that it is important for the public to have an opportunity to know why some people strongly support the project, while others vehemently oppose it. To summarize some of the arguments that we have heard:
In support of the project
– Landowners who have agreed to lease their land to the project would receive a significant payment for decades. Some of the farmers have indicated that they have no family members who are interested in continuing to farm the land. Others state that the lease payments will be more than they’ve been able to net from their farming business.
– Some commenters are in support of adding more “green energy” to the grid. It’s indicated that in order to achieve the State’s clean energy goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050, it may be necessary to utilize as much as 5% of current agricultural land for solar energy production. Efforts to reduce electric consumption in recent years are being reversed by the increasing use of high energy consuming innovations such as Artificial Intelligence.
– Construction of the project will generate jobs, and, ultimately, revenue for the towns.
– The Whitewater Solar website provides additional supporting positions.
– Third Act, a nonprofit organization that describes its mission as being to “empower elders to protect the environment and strengthen our democracy, has come out in support of the project.
Against the project
– Many property owners who are not participating in the project state that they will lose the enjoyment of their natural surroundings, will experience unnatural sounds (which may be particularly disturbing to their animals), and in some cases will experience some glare on their property. They are also concerned that their property values will decline.
– Concerns are expressed about the impact that the project will have on wildlife.
– Farmers have indicated that the effectiveness of their drain tiles may be affected by digging on nearby properties.
– Much of the land in our area is rated as being excellent for farming. It seems doubtful that land that is converted to the project will ever return to agricultural use.
– The project will negatively impact views from the Kettle Moraine State Forest as well as from the Ice Age Trail.
– Yvette Loiselle, a non-participating property owner in the affected area, and middle school teacher and former high school teacher of both Natural Resources and AP Environmental Science, is an “intervenor” on the case. Her comments that were submitted for the intervenors’ meeting on July 2 may be read here: LOISELLE Supplemental EA SCOPING COMMENT – Google Docs
– A Banner reader added some additional views in opposition to the project: Significantly inefficient compared to natural gas/nuclear…; without huge government subsidies solar would not even be possible; horrible with regard to sustainability (significantly worse than fossil fuels); These solar panels have a very short life, and the recycling of solar panels is complex.
– The project is not in line with the Jefferson County Land Use Plans, which call for preserving as much farmland as possible. [State law does not give the counties any authority over whether to allow a solar project.]
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Previous articles on The Whitewater Banner:
Published 4/5/25 – Public Service Commission: “No significant environmental impact” expected from proposed solar farm – Comments due 4/11 –
Published 12/21/24 – Public Service Commission Considering Approval of Massive Solar Farm East of the City
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Finally, Rebecca Fredericks, another non-participating property owner, submitted the following perspective. She makes reference to the intervenor’s hearing on July 2. Rebecca concludes with encouragement to everyone to come to the hearing, even if they are FOR the project.
“If you’ve seen the Broadway play “Hamilton” before, you might know that it’s an attempt to tell the compelling story of a less-celebrated Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton. Lin Manual Miranda was inspired to share about his life nearly 200 years later because he read the story. He knew the story needed to come to light and he did it justice for sure. (If you haven’t seen Hamilton, please do. It’s amazing, I’ve seen the years of this country’s founding in a new light.) One of the most important things I heard was something that has compelled me my entire life: every aspect of the story matters and deserves to be told. And, to tell that story, you need to be in the room where it happened.
I spent nearly all my time in the past two days watching the Public Service Commission Party hearing for those who chose to engage in the legal battle against Whitewater Solar and their proposed project in Walworth and Jefferson counties. I drove to Madison to be present when I could, and when I could not, I was on my computer. This battle is not between the compensated/participating landowners, but between the non-participating/affected landowners in close proximity to the project and the project developer, Whitewater Solar. I want to be clear that I know the participating landowners have a story, too. I don’t offer criticism to their choices, and I acknowledge their freedom to choose to do as they feel with their property. And, to acknowledge my similar freedoms, this is the side of the story I choose to tell.
The burden to stick through this process and defend their interests and way of life is unspeakably massive for the intervenors. Navigating this battle as a lay-person against what is essentially the state of Wisconsin and it’s policies, and solar developers with immeasurable resources, is a true David and Goliath story. The non-participating landowners, as Intervenors to the case, have prepared legal documents, reviewed state statutes and codes, learned about easements, lead and steel and medium-voltage cables, glare, sound studies, and waterways. They did their very best to interpret and translate all the complex laws that manage these things. They confronted the DNR, scientists, and researchers, and questioned everything as they sought to better understand the impact and protect themselves. Are these neighbors solar experts? No. Are they the experts on their lives and homes, their animals and spaces, and on their bodies and personal health? Yes.
I watched our neighbors humbly and bravely sit at this table and speak to their losses (and there ARE losses to them). Intervenors who are elderly and built their homes 40 years ago will now be living with industrial development all around them. They are not being compensated for that loss, and they have had to try to figure out Zoom, electronic document uploading, and many other complexities of the modern world while also managing the health concerns that already accompany later life. They wished to live out their remaining years in the home they built, in the spot they chose, for the lived experience they wanted. Intervenors who keep horses, goats, dogs, or simply love to drink their morning coffee and appreciate the natural environment they are surrounded by, will now see that backed up to 8 foot metal fencing, possibly with barbed wire around it. Having kept horses myself, and owned dogs and goats, it is a much different reality to have these risks nearby. The sound studies offered to address how much noise impact there will be only considers human impact, and only sought to address noise on one sunny August day. Have you ever stood on a cold, January day near a field or open area and been able to appreciate the difference in the way sound behaves? It’s stunning when that sound is nature, such as a bird call, or deer snort. The constant hum of inverters does not offer the same life-affirming experience. With broader and more sensitive hearing, cattle, horses and goats are also likely having a much different experience next to this as well.
For those who leased their land for the project, these losses are mitigated by financial gain. For the developers, they will now be selling a product, and they will gain. For those who chose to stay out of the project, there is no gain. For those who own residential homes near these fields, there was nothing they could even offer TO achieve a gain that would help balance their losses. There IS only loss. For the animals who inhabit this land now, there is only loss. For the people who enjoy these lands and waters, there is only added endangerment to these resources.
Whitewater Solar has an option to avoid impact to residential properties, though. They are required to have as part of their project applications “alternate sites”. These are meant to show that the developers considered contingencies, and that in the event their project cannot go on the planned leased land, it can move to the alternate sites. This was inquired about many times throughout the hearing process. The DNR water expert says this is more expensive to do, but possible. As you might know, water tables are strange around here. There are wetlands to be worked around. But using this space puts this project AWAY from people. As we look at these available acres, all of the intervenors and MORE residences could be backed away from, but Whitewater Solar seems unmotivated to do this. They offered as explanation only that these areas have challenges, but refused to say more. We know water and wetlands are one challenge but the DNR witness offered a few suggestions on how this might be overcome. As for the rest of the challenges, we can only speculate: Is it critical habitat? Is the lease unfavorable? Are these actually NOT viable sites for some reason? They aren’t saying, but it allows this dark truth to linger: Money might fix it, and the developers don’t want to spend the money. They’d rather impact these humans lives by laying down metal and glass and erecting fences near their homes than figure out how not to do that. The equation for this is: People are worth LESS than money, or developer interests. Listen, I’m better with words than numbers, but even I know that equation cannot be balanced. It was nauseating to watch this developer lay this equation on the table under the noses of these people who were in the room and those of us watching on screen. It was also enraging to watch the attorney’s and their unschooled facial expressions towards the intervenors and their statements. I can almost expect this from the developer’s side, but The Wisconsin Public Service Commission’s attorney is on video rolling her eyes at them, scoffing, and otherwise acting like a sixteen year old shunning a girl with cheap clothing. They whined about having to be there late on the holiday week, and it was the intervenor’s who needed to point out to her that at least she was getting paid. They were dismissive, rude, and need to learn to fix their faces in order for the public to feel they actually consider the public as their position suggests. Trust me when I tell you that your neighbors were by far the classiest people in the room. Actually, Judge Newmark was pretty decent too, and he’s coming to town next week to meet you at the Public Hearing.
I can’t speak as an intervenor. I’m not a party to this case. I’ve simply read and heard and seen the story, and I believe it deserves retelling. I’ve seen firsthand that Whitewater Solar has been sloppy, made mistakes, and created confusion presumably with the hopes of shaking off the intervenors to this case and clearing their path to breaking ground. If you saw the maps a year ago and decided you could live with it, please know this project has changed. Mr. Haus advised one Intervenor that he had to “rob Peter to pay Paul”. Trust me, if you live near this area, you may be Peter. And you likely do not even know that. The developers may have sent a postcard to your address asking you to come hang out with them for a “meet and greet” that occurred the day after postcards arrived, but they didn’t say why. They didn’t tell you things had changed, it doesn’t fit their equation to do so. They didn’t tell you that this new map INCREASES impact to wetlands and waterways. They’ll tell you that they made the PV array area smaller, but that the total fenced land included is now bigger. They moved away from some homes and even let two lessors back out of the project for unknown reasons, but they didn’t tell you that. We can tell you that story in words and pictures because you do deserve to know.
I mentioned Judge Newmark coming to town to meet you, and that’s true. You also now have a chance to be in the room where it happens. On Wednesday, July 9th at 2 pm and 6 pm, there is a public hearing IN Whitewater, as required by law in this project. This is your chance as a non-affected landowner, as a citizen, as an Ice Age Trail enthusiast, as a farmer who chose to farm rather than lease, as a neighbor or friend to speak life into this side of the argument. You are not without voice, and it is your time to give that voice power.
Please come. Please come even if you are FOR this project. Show that people do actually matter more than money. Show that we are not ignoring what is happening in this area. Be in the room when it happens because your story, this story, their story, the land’s story, it all matters and deserves to be told.”
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Previous articles on The Whitewater Banner:
Published 4/5/25 – Public Service Commission: “No significant environmental impact” expected from proposed solar farm – Comments due 4/11 –
Published 12/21/24 – Public Service Commission Considering Approval of Massive Solar Farm East of the City
