The Wisconsin Public Service Commission announced Monday, July 1, that it had completed an environmental assessment for a proposed large-scale solar project south of Barron.
“The preliminary determination indicates that no significant impacts on the human or natural environment are likely to occur as a result of the construction and operation of this project,” the PSC stated.
This determination means that the project applicant, Maple Grove Solar, does not need to prepare a more detailed Environmental Impact Statement, which is a full disclosure document that provides an assessment of significant environmental impacts and reasonable alternatives considered in connection with the proposed action.
The 260-megawatt solar project is proposed on 1,559 acres of land in the Town of Maple Grove. The plan also involves a 50-megawatt battery energy storage system and a 2-mile generator tie power line to the Dairyland Power Cooperative substation on the south side of Barron.
Florida-based ibV Energy Partners has said that the close proximity to the substation is a primary reason the Town of Maple Grove was selected for their project.
The proposed solar arrays would be located on either side of Hwy. 25—between 11 ½ Avenue to the north and 9th Avenue to the south, and between 13th Street to the west and 16th Street to the east.
The generator tie line would run through primarily active agricultural fields and cross 11th Avenue and 12th Avenue.
The environmental assessment indicated that the primary environmental impacts of the project would occur during the construction phase.
“During construction activities, there would be increased noise, dust, and vibration in the construction areas,” PSC documents state.
Increased vehicle traffic was also mentioned during the construction phase.
Once the solar farm is up and running, the PSC documents mentioned some erosion risk on disturbed soils and potential risk to wetlands, though minor.
“Maple Grove Solar is avoiding most areas of wetland or forest-land in the project area with placement of the primary facilities,” the document stated. “The site is planned to be seeded with low growing native and non-native grasses and some areas of more diverse native flowering plants. This would stabilize and improve soils while limiting any runoff onto adjacent properties.”
There is also a visual impact of the project, which has an estimated life of 40 years.
The PSC document stated, “A visual change in the project area from open agricultural fields to a more industrial landscape of fencing and rows of solar panels would affect viewers differently. Some landowners that do not receive direct benefits from the project may react more negatively to the proposed project.”
Twenty-six people submitted public comments to the PSC, both for and against the proposal.
Several people commented positively in support of having non-fossil energy sources in Barron County.
But comments were mostly negative, as many residents of the area said they feared repercussions from the loss of farmland, environmental impacts, reductions in property value, and the visual impact and reduced quality of life.
The PSC concluded, “The project as proposed in the application and subsequent filings, including use of the stated construction methods and implementation of the mitigation plans, is not expected to cause any significant environmental effects. There would be increased noise, dust, and vibration, which may affect nearby residents during the construction of project facilities. A change in the landscape from agricultural fields to a more developed area with panels, associated facilities, and fencing would be noticeable to local landowners and those driving through the area. There could be increased soil erosion and stormwater runoff from the site, particularly when soils have been disturbed and during heavy precipitation events.
“No significant impacts on the human environment that would warrant the preparation of an EIS are expected if this project were constructed using some combination of the currently proposed array sites. Thus, preparation of an EIS, as described in Wis. Stat. § 1.11, is not required for this project.”
The PSC indicated that the land used for the solar arrays could one day return to productive farmland, among other uses.
The document stated, “Maple Grove Solar anticipates that the ongoing negotiation and execution of a joint development agreement with Barron County, the Town of Barron, and the Town of Maple Grove would require the project to provide a decommissioning plan and potential financial assurance that such plan be completed.”
The Barron County Board Executive Committee discussed this agreement in closed session on Monday, July 2. No action was taken when the committee returned to open session.
Neither the towns nor county have much say over the solar projects approval, as that rests mainly with the PSC.
PSC hearings on the project among the parties and commission staff are planned in July, August and September.
A public hearing session is planned Sept. 10 in Barron.
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