Community Resources

Clear, accessible information to help town leaders and residents understand energy projects and make informed decisions.

Communities are on the front lines of energy development in Wisconsin, and we believe that education is the key to positive change. As solar, storage, wind energy, nuclear, gas combustion, and data centers expand, township leaders and residents face important choices about land use, community priorities, and energy costs. Browse our resources and tools below to help your community understand and navigate energy development, and to engage in local decision-making.

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These resources are made available by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) for educational purposes only and are intended to help refer people to resources and accurate information about solar PV. This is not intended to sell any product.

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Getting Started

Town government is the most local level of democracy in Wisconsin. With more than 1,250 townships across the state, township boards make decisions about roads, land use, zoning, and community services, all of which intersect with energy projects. A typical township includes one town Chairperson, two town Supervisors, an elected Clerk, and Treasurer. Townships are designed to listen and respond to residents. You can get involved by:

Attending town board meetings
Submitting comments or questions during public hearings
Asking to place energy topics onto meeting agendas
Talking directly with your town clerk or elated officials
Joining local planning or land use committees

Most local governments, including counties, cities, villages, and/or towns, have their own official websites. Visit your local government’s website to find information on elected officials, access ordinances, explore services and resources, and more.

Check out the following resources for more information on local governments:

Wisconsin Towns Association – Learn about the roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes within towns, and explore frequently asked questions.
Wisconsin City/County Management Association – Learn about the types of local governments in Wisconsin and explore resources.
League of Wisconsin Municipalities – Learn about how Wisconsin municipalities work and explore their citizen’s guide to Wisconsin municipalities.

Renewables

Explore the resources below to learn how solar and other renewable energy developments may affect your community.

Explore existing and proposed solar projects across the state with: Solar Farm Map | RENEW Wisconsin and Solar Farms Map | Cleanview
Utility-Scale Solar in Wisconsin | RENEW WI – Broad overview of utility-scale solar and its impacts for policy makers and community members.
Utility Aid Payments for Wind and Solar – Learn more about the funds granted to local governments due to solar and wind projects. Utility Shared Revenue Payments
Economics – Community Economic Development – Explore the economic benefits for the community from utility-scale solar and wind projects.

Community Tools

Explore tools to help your community proactively plan for economic, environmental and social impacts associated with large-scale renewable energy developments:

How Community Engagement Improves large solar projects | RENEW Wisconsin – Explore steps to ensuring that solar development works for everyone.
RESET Program: Renewable Energy and Siting & Engagement for Tomorrow | Focus on Wisconsin – Helps communities develop local priorities so they can have input with developers.
Utility Aid Calculator – Solar Utility Aid Payment calculator for municipalities and counties
Grow Solar Wisconsin, Local Government Toolkit | Great Plains Institute – Information and tools for local governments on planning, zoning, and permitting.
Guide to Local Regulation | WI Land and Water – How to regulate wind and solar systems under 100 megawatts.
Solar Energy Financing Guide | UWM Extension – Tools to empower local governments in economic planning for solar projects.
Building Community Capacity When Large-Scale Solar Comes to Town | UWM Extension – Explore the pilot community engagement process that incorporates feedback into the siting and development of large-scale solar.
Engaging Towns and Villages in Solar Developments | State Bar of WI – Learn about ways that communities can ensure their viewpoints are considered, and share in the benefits of those investments.

News and Perspectives

Explore real examples of how Wisconsin communities are responding to large-scale solar development, and other solar projects in the news:

Portage County’s solar talks bring community together | Solar Cell USA – Learn about how this project engaged residents in discussions about solar projects.
We farm the sun | WPR – Article exploring how some Wisconsin dairy farmers use solar energy as a new source of income.
State bill would require solar & wind projects to get local approval | WPR – Learn about the proposed bill that could give local governments veto power over large renewable energy projects.
Town of Rome residents fight against solar farm development in their community | WJFW News – Learn about how this community opposed a large-scale solar project.
Lawmakers look to break utility grip on community solar | Wisconsin Watch – News article on the legal status and support for community solar in Wisconsin.
Tax revenue from wind, solar projects assist local entities | Center for Rural Affairs – Learn about the financial impacts of wind and solar projects in Minnesota.
Local Economic Benefits of Wind Farms | Clean Grid Alliance – Learn about how wind projects improved county finances in Iowa.

Interested in going solar?

Grow Solar | MREA – Explore Solar Group Buy options for home and business owners, solar toolkits for city, county, community, and electric utility leaders, and technical assistance for institutions.

Data Centers

The approval of a data center project is a local decision. Some communities are more concerned about the impacts, while others welcome anticipated benefits. Explore the resources below to learn more about how this may impact your community.

What are data centers? | Wisconsin Public Radio – An article to help Wisconsin communities learn the basics on how data centers work and what they do.
Data Center sales and use tax exemption | WEDC – Read about incentives for data center projects in Wisconsin, how to prepare, and how to contact your regional development director.
Democratic lawmakers propose policy framework for data center construction | Wisconsin Examiner – Learn about policy considerations for communities.
Data Center Development in Wisconsin | Kenosha Area Business Alliance – Explore resources, fact sheets, and information about specific projects in the state.
Explore existing and proposed data center projects across the state: Data Center Map

News and Perspectives

Check out real examples of how Wisconsin communities are responding to data center development:

How Caledonia Defeated a Data Center | Clean Wisconsin – Podcast episode exploring what can be learned from this small community who opposed a data center project.
At least four Wisconsin communities signed secrecy deals for data centers | Wisconsin Watch – Read about how some local governments are signing Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), which cuts off a community’s ability to negotiate.
Deforest residents organize to stop proposed data center | Daily Cardinal – News article on controversy surrounding a Deforest data center, including how community feedback sessions were used so that residents could raise concerns.
Port Washington approved development agreement for data center | WPR – See how this community pushed a project forward using a development agreement intended to protect residents’ interests.

Best Practices

Community energy projects have unique land use, zoning, and policy considerations, so it’s critical that planning, transparency, and collaboration is part of the process. Explore resources, tools, and strategies to ensure that community needs are met.

Joint Development Agreements

Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) are enforceable contracts between solar developers and local governments which set mutually agreed upon conditions and standards for the solar project. They are common but not required and allow the local governments to negotiate for standards and practices they would like to see implemented for the solar project.

Negotiating Development Agreements and Mitigating Risk – Explore tools to support development agreements.

Explore real examples of Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) in Wisconsin:

Community Benefits Agreements

Community Benefits Agreements are legally binding contracts between a developer and a community group or coalition which details amenities, mitigations, or investments the developer will provide in exchange for community support of a project.

Community Benefits Agreements | Wisconsin Farmers Union – Learn how these agreements can help communities plan and increase local benefits alongside projects.
Community Benefits Agreements for Solar Development Resource Guide | Great Plains Institute – Explore resources and examples.
Explore real examples of Community Benefits Agreements in other states: Community Benefits Agreements Database | Columbia Law

Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency Local Policy Programs – The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy has some helpful tools for establishing local policies. More of a governmental tool.

Get Involved

The MREA supports Wisconsin communities with solar education, training, and outreach through our Energy in Your Township program. If you’d like to host a presentation, request resources, or connect with our renewable energy experts, we’re here to help.

Learn more

More Resources

NABCEP Installer Directory

Created to help protect quality assurance in the industry by allowing consumers and stakeholders to look up NABCEP Accredited and Certified Professionals in their area.

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