Long-time readers of the Defender will no doubt be familiar with Clean Wisconsin’s long history of advocacy on behalf of wind and solar energy projects. Done right, these clean energy developments can offer both local economic benefits as well as health and environmental improvements. Members of our Action Alert community are very familiar with our requests to speak up on behalf of these projects and ensure that the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is aware of the deep support for clean energy that exists within Wisconsin and within our membership. At a time when so many of the values Clean Wisconsin members care about are under threat, the transition to clean energy sources can, and should, be a source of excitement and energy.
Over the course of 2026, we are looking at a big, potentially historic year for wind and solar projects in Wisconsin. So far this year, we have seen the PSC approve Emerald Bluffs Solar, a 225-megawatt solar farm in Juneau County and Akron Solar, a 200-megawatt solar farm in Adams County. Looking at the project pipeline suggests at least six more projects could be approved this year. While we must acknowledge the uncertainty of energy development and regulatory timelines, there is a strong likelihood that 2026 surpasses the record for clean energy approvals set in 2023. That year we saw the approval of seven projects representing 1.4 gigawatts of new clean energy. The economics and speed to deploy clean energy has kept the momentum going despite headwinds in other areas.
There are some important projects that Clean Wisconsin will be focused on in 2026 and beyond. Columbia Wind, a 277-mw wind farm planned for Columbia county, will be the first wind project to seek the PSC’s approval since last year’s approval of Badger Hollow Wind, a successful effort Clean Wisconsin helped lead. Uplands Wind East is a 300 MW project in Iowa and Lafayette counties that, if approved, would be the largest wind project in the state. And Ten Mile Creek Solar is a 300-mw solar project planned for St. Croix County. Located on agricultural lands at the headwaters of the Kinnickinnic River, this project is an excellent opportunity for Clean Wisconsin to highlight the surface and groundwater quality improvements that can come with transitioning agricultural land to solar use.
To help ensure we hit these important milestones, Clean Wisconsin will continue to ask you to join your voice with ours and speak up on behalf of clean energy. Expect to hear from us when there is an opportunity to submit a public comment about why you support a particular clean energy project. If you live near a proposed project, we may even ask you to attend the public hearing to demonstrate your support for clean energy. Together, we will continue our work to advance clean energy and ensure 2026 lives up to its potential for historic progress.
