Project Manager Jon Baker discusses the process and opportunities that come with siting a large solar project.
[Portage County, Wis.] – In case you missed it, Jon Baker, Project Manager of the Vista Sands Solar Project in Central Wisconsin, sat down with the Electric Wire Podcast to discuss the project, the benefits it will bring to the region, and the overall process for siting a large solar project.
The project is also set to bring new economic opportunities to the region, creating 500 jobs during the construction phase, while providing over $1 billion in initial investments and $6.5 million annually in utility aid for the County and local municipalities. Vista Sands Solar also represents a large step towards achieving the state’s renewable energy goals. As proposed, the Vista Sands Solar Project will generate over 1,200 megawatts of carbon-free energy in the towns of Grant, Plover, and Buena Vista in Portage County – enough to power over 200,000 Wisconsin homes.
During the interview, Baker shared that not only will the energy from the project be used to supply local demand, but also reduce the need for millions of pounds of fertilizers and tens of thousands of gallons of insecticides: “Our projects would avoid the application of 3 million pounds of fertilizer annually as well as over 70,000 gallons of insecticides and about 1,500 gallons of herbicides.”
“In addition, the grasses that are planted will help produce stormwater run-off as well as erosion from storm events or wind. We are working with the DNR and Public Service Commission to identity a local, native planting mixture that can help attract pollinators and insects that local grassland birds like the prairie chicken can use as a food source,” he continued.
Read the excerpts below or listen here.
Q: What could the people of Central Wisconsin look forward to as benefits to come from the project?
A: The climate change benefits will help everyone to some degree… The amount of energy provided by [Vista Sands Solar] is magnificent. The 1,200-megawatt Vista Sands Project will power 200,000 homes, meeting the residential needs of Portage County a couple times over. This energy will be distributed locally and will be used to meet local demand. In addition, the shared utility revenue payment policy in Wisconsin allows for local residents that host power facilities to receive the highest benefits. Overall, this would be over $6 million a year for local townships.
Q: How has the community been involved in the planning process?
A: Going back into early 2022, before the environmental work or the signing of the land, we approached and met with representatives of Portage County, Grant Township, Clover Township, and made ourselves available. This looked like attending some of the local township meetings to hear the areas of concerns, like high-density populations and wildlife. We were able to avoid areas of higher residential density as well as several hundred acres of leased area for conservation parcels housing wildlife such as prairie chickens.
Q: What other steps have you taken to addressing the wildlife in the area and stewarding that area well?
A: I think some people are under the assumption that we might be using conservation grounds. That is not true, we are only on privately held farm grounds. Our project would avoid the application of 3 million pounds of fertilizer annually as well as over 70,000 gallons of insecticides and about 1,500 gallons of herbicides… In addition, the grasses that are planted will help produce stormwater run-off as well as erosion from storm events or wind. We are working with the DNR and Public Service Commission to identity a local, native planting mixture that can help attract pollinators and insects that local grassland birds like the prairie chicken can use as a food source.
Q: Where is the project at right now?
A: We submitted our CPCN application to the PSC at the beginning of the year… That process takes over a year – between 12 and 14 months – so we would expect first quarter of 2025, if we are able to meet all the requirements of the PSC. We also hope to receive our final interconnection agreement for the project that would finalize the cost for tying into the grid and establish a timeline for completing any upgrades so if both of those major milestones were to occur. Then, we would spend the rest of 2025 procuring the materials and a contractor to build the project in hopes of starting construction in 2026.
Listen to the full piece here.
