State approves 1,200-acre solar farm in Jefferson County

MADISON — Wisconsin regulators have unanimously approved construction of a 149-megawatt solar farm in Jefferson County to produce energy for Dairyland Power Cooperative.

Ranger Power plans to build and operate the Badger State solar farm on about 1,200 acres of land in the towns of Oakland and Jefferson, about 25 miles southeast of Madison. La Crosse-based Dairyland has a contract to purchase the power.

Local and state elected officials weighed in to support the project, as did Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, which touted the private investment of more than $100 million and the revenue it will bring to local landowners and governments.

“Utility-scale solar now competes head-to-head with other options, and Wisconsin is well-positioned to benefit,” said Lane Ruhland, director of environment and energy policy for the state’s main business lobbying group...
   ...more

Ken Notes: I am OK with these projects, but should we be in a position the negotiate offset in the form of conservancy land, trails, recreational use lands, or small farm preservation lands. Just a thought...