Stop Wasting Our Wind

Wisconsin-grown clean energy

To reach Wisconsin’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions economy-wide by 2050, we need to build about 1-2 new wind farms every year. That’ s in addition to building more solar and cutting energy waste through efficiency measures.

The growth of wind is energizing rural Wisconsin in every way. This homegrown product is not only putting our state on track to meet clean energy goals, it’ s also helping to keep hardworking communities – from the farm fields to Main Street – healthy and strong. Wind energy is a highly efficient, profitable, made-in- Wisconsin product that contributes to a clean and healthy environment.

Proposed Wind Projects in Wisconsin

Uplands Wind

Uplands Wind will provide clean energy, economic benefits, and jobs that move Wisconsin forward. Energy from the project will connect to the electric grid and help diversify Wisconsin’s energy supply.

Uplands Wind represents a total capital investment of $1 billion

Uplands Wind will provide 600 MW of energy upon completion — a critical step on our path to net-zero in Wisconsin

Uplands Wind will generate $3 million annually for local communities hosting the project

Uplands Wind will create 450–600 jobs during construction and 12-16 permanent jobs

Uplands Wind will use local companies, services and materials

Uplands Wind is being designed as two 300-megawatt wind projects in Lafayette, Iowa, and Grant counties.

Local Benefits of Wind

Wind energy is essential to help Wisconsin meet its climate goals, but there are a host of other benefits this energy source provides beyond reducing our reliance on dirty fossil fuels. Transformative economic opportunities for rural communities, reliable income for local land owners and farmers, and improving Wisconsin’s energy independence make for compelling reasons to support utility-scale wind.

Economic Benefits For Farmers

By leasing out some of their land to host wind turbines – which farmers can continue to farm around – rural landowners are able to incorporate this stable, long-term income into their farm business plan. With more family farms struggling to make ends meet and going out of business, these leases can be an economic lifeline. Wind leases help diversify farm income, keeping more farms productive and viable to pass onto the next generation.

Support For Rural Communities

Per state law, local governments hosting any utility-owned solar project or a developer-owned solar project over 50 megawatts (MW) receive $5,000 per megawatt every year from the state’s utility aid fund. For a 600 megawatt, project like Uplands Wind, that’s $3 million every year for about 30 years. That money can help small communities meet urgent needs like investing in school buildings, repairing roads, and buying emergency response equipment.

Improving Wisconsin’s Energy Independence

Right now, Wisconsin sends $14 billion out of state every year to import fossil fuels. By capitalizing on a clean, renewable resource that blows across the Badger State, we can keep more of those dollars here and reinvest them in our communities. Homegrown wind energy helps us become more energy independent and resilient.

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Showing up for wind in Wisconsin

Compared to Wisconsin, Michigan’s wind capacity is four times higher. Minnesota: six times higher. Illinois: ten times higher. And Iowa: a whopping 17 times higher wind capacity than we have here in Wisconsin! Our state trails in wind energy from a lack of project development over the last decade, but recent proposals for new wind projects in our state, like Uplands Wind, are cause for excitement. Wind energy is a highly efficient, profitable, made-in-Wisconsin product that contributes to a clean and healthy environment.

There are many reasons we should be producing more homegrown energy in Wisconsin, and to do that, we need to speak up and support building new wind farms in our communities. Learn how you can support Wisconsin wind today.

Under the Lens: Mitigating bird and bat mortality at wind farms

The impact of wind turbines on birds and bats should be evaluated against the impact of current fossil fuel-based energy production. Fossil fuel use drives climate change which is a leading threat to both birds and bats.

Three Big Things

Wisconsin needs more renewable energy on the grid. Much more. And we need it fast. While the transition to clean energy is achievable, it’s no surprise that Wisconsin must drastically pick up the pace. Based on the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, we’ve only installed about 3% of the solar capacity needed by 2050.