With 2024 on track to be the hottest year on record, climate change and solutions to mitigate it are at the forefront of many minds. Last year, the Wisconsin Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy released a plan for the state to be 100% carbon-free by 2050. With only 11% of Wisconsin’s in-state net energy generation coming from renewable sources as of 2022, there is still a long way to go. As more renewable energy proposals are pushed through, an uncomfortable reality has come to light: pursuing renewable energy projects which help meet emissions goals can also cause negative environmental impacts.
The Largest Solar Array in Wisconsin
Wisconsinites are currently grappling with this nonsequitur as the proposed solar farm project by Vista Sands Solar LLC in Portage County is under review. Consisting of solar panels and related infrastructure on 7,110 acres in the towns of Plover, Buena Vista, and Grant, the Vista Sands Solar farm would become the largest in the state, four times larger than the runner up, Badger Hollow Solar farm. This project would contribute significantly to the state’s clean energy goals, producing 1,300 megawatts of power and 300 megawatts of battery storage, the equivalent of powering up to 250,000 homes. The downside? The proposed development area is adjacent to critical breeding habitat at the Buena Vista State Wildlife Area for the largest population of the threatened Greater Prairie Chicken. Once common across grasslands in the state, habitat loss has reduced the population to only 264 documented male chickens in the state in 2023, 175 of which breed at the Buena Vista State Wildlife Area.
Prairie Chickens Under Threat
Known for their elaborate courtship displays on breeding grounds called “leks,” the Greater Prairie Chicken competes for its native grassland habitat with farms and now solar farms. The 2022-23 Wisconsin Prairie Chicken Management Plan stated that solar farm and related infrastructure development may have significant negative impacts on Prairie Chickens, especially those in close proximity to lek sites. The Wisconsin Society of Ornithology highlighted in a public comment the need to preserve grassland habitat at least a mile around lek sites to avoid disturbing nesting and brooding of these sensitive birds. Some of the proposed array sites are slated directly on these nesting sites as well and many within the recommended one mile radius.
Image Source: Danita Delimont. Shutterstock.
Concern for this threatened species does not go unnoticed; in the recent public input period for the proposal in June, 80% of the 400 comments received cited concerns about the Greater Prairie Chicken. Following this, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released a final environmental impact statement for the project describing the potential harm to the Prairie Chicken. The statement provided recommendations for removal of primary areas of solar arrays and choosing alternate sites, but even with these mitigations, negative effects would remain. The final comment period for public weigh in is currently underway, with a public hearing to be held on August 15th in Plover.
Renewable Energy Dilemmas Elsewhere
Residents and public officials are weighing similar consequences across the country as renewable energy projects become more common. In Nevada, the proposed Rough Hat Clark County Solar Project would develop 2,400 acres of public land home to the federally protected Desert Tortoise. A species already suffering from significant population decline, this project threatens to further imperil their tenuous existence.
Charting Our Future
Seeing the potential consequences of these efforts leaves us wondering: What are we willing to risk for the greater good? Are there better ways to achieve a greener future without further jeopardizing threatened species? The conversion to 100% clean energy will undoubtedly bring with it a set of learnings around how and how not to achieve this transition. Let’s proceed with open, curious eyes to these changes around us and make sure that no matter the future we create, it’s one that is made with awareness and intention.
For More
- See the “booming” mating dance of male Prairie Chickens hoping to impress females performed ritually each spring.
- File a public comment about the Vista Sands Solar Farm proposal here. Select the “file a comment” tab and select the link under the “Vista Sands Solar Farm” entry.
- Learn about Fred & Fran Hamerstrom, the couple who worked together for over forty years to study Greater Prairie Chickens and preserve their last grassland refuge in the center of the state.
In Case You Missed It…
News from Nature Net Members
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| Aldo Leopold Nature Center | Cherokee Marsh | International Crane Foundation |
| Relive your childhood camp days with the Adult Summer Camp fundraiser featuring classic summer activities, locally brewed beverages, crafts, and adventure in support of children’s environmental education in southern Wisconsin. | Help protect Wisconsin waterways in a statewide search for aquatic invasive species at the annual Snapshot Day event on August 10th. Check out monitoring sites at Warner Park, Cherokee Marsh, and other locations. | Are you crazy about cranes? Join the annual Cranes of the World Celebration on August 10th at the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo for a day full of crane education and activities for all ages. |
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| Finish out your summer strong by filling out the rest of your Nature Passport! Make sure to stop at every Nature Net member site to get every stamp. | Don’t miss out on the Green and Healthy Schools summit this month! Read more about the workshop and see even more resources on our Workshops for Educators page. | Keep the back-to-school nerves at bay with plenty of nature education and play opportunities. Check in with our calendar to find a fun outdoor activity near you. |
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