Our Legacy of Victory
Wisconsin’s Most Powerful Solar Project
Vista Sands solar farm in Portage County was approved by the Public Service Commission in 2024, making it the most powerful solar farm in the state and among the most powerful in the country, generating nearly 1.3 gigawatts (GW) of electricity—enough clean energy to power about 200,000 Wisconsin homes.
Clean Wisconsin submitted testimony to the PSC in support of the project, highlighting the projects’ numerous benefits to the land and surrounding communities. Our analysis submitted to the PSC showed Vista Sands is also likely to have significant water benefits in Portage County, boosting aquifer levels and reducing contamination in the water-depleted Central Sands region. The solar farm is anticipated to take 56 high capacity wells out of normal operation and will greatly reduce the estimated 3 million pounds of fertilizer and 73,000 gallons of insecticide currently spread across the project area every year. In addition to the water quality benefits the project will bring, Vista Sands will displace millions of tons of carbon dioxide and other pollutants over its lifespan.
Our work also included public messaging to uplift the local benefits of utility-scale solar farms like Vista Sands. In addition to diversifying income for farmers hosting panels on part of their land, the project will bring community-wide economic benefits, providing $6.5 million every year to local towns and counties to invest in critical local needs such as repairing roads, purchasing emergency equipment, improving parks and expanding services.
Why It Matters
Solar farms, especially when designed and sited with care, can bring along huge water protections in parts of our state especially at risk of overuse. By taking dozens of high-capacity wells out of operation, Vista Sands is giving Wisconsin’s Central Sands region a much needed reprieve, finally helping the area make real progress on critical water issues.
Such a powerful project means big steps toward cleaner air and cleaner energy in our state. Without impactful projects like Vista Sands, Wisconsin won’t be able to reach its carbon reduction goals. Cheap energy like solar offers a way to get there without increasing energy costs for residents.
