Stop Wasting Our Wind

Wisconsin-grown clean energy

Wisconsin has an abundance of wind blowing through our state each and every day, but we’re not harnessing its power as effectively as we should. This efficient energy source has the potential to help Wisconsin reach its goal of carbon-free electricity generation by 2050 while bringing transformative levels of investment to small and rural communities around the state.

Projects like Uplands Wind and Badger Hollow — two wind projects recently proposed by developers — would bring hundreds of megawatts of clean energy to Wisconsin’s energy grid, bringing us one step closer to achieving a clean energy economy.

Proposed Wind Projects in Wisconsin

Badger Hollow

Badger Hollow is the first wind project submitted for approval in Wisconsin in over a decade. Over the lifetime of the project, Badger Hollow will help transform Wisconsin’s energy sector.

Badger Hollow will generate $64 million in economic investment for local communities hosting the project over its lifetime, including lease payments that will help farmers stay on the land

Badger Hollow will provide 118 MW of energy upon completion — a critical step on our path to net-zero in Wisconsin

Badger Hollow will generate $590,000 in local tax revenues in the form of utility aid payments that will let towns and counties fix roads and expand services

Badger Hollow will create 200 jobs during construction and 4 permanent operations and maintenance jobs in Iowa and Grant counties.

Badger Hollow is a 118 MW wind project proposed for Grant and Iowa counties.

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.