Wisconsin is returning to the wind energy game after 14 years without new projects, which is a lot for the US. The Public Service Commission (PSC) authorized a 118 megawatt wind farm in Grant and Iowa counties on September 26, 2025. The decision, according to campaign leaders like Rick Coelho and advocates like Clean Wisconsin, means huge progress on climate change, more renewable energy on the grid, and stronger local economies.
At the same time, regulators approved the 180-megawatt Whitewater Solar Farm, showing the synergy between solar and wind energy. When combined, these actions show that cleaner power can reduce emissions, create jobs, and boost environmental health. The approvals also point to a larger trend: state leaders are viewing renewables as useful tools for long-term resilience instead of just carbon cutters.
What Wisconsin approved—and why it matters
Wisconsin’s first wind farm since 2011 was approved by the PSC and this 118 MW project is located in Grant and Iowa counties, proving that wind development is once again on the rise.
The project can generate leasing money for landowners and farmers while powering tens of thousands of homes, according to Clean Wisconsin.
Renewable energy projects progress when regulations are clear, communities are involved, and environmental objectives are well-defined. And so the state authorized the 180 MW Whitewater Solar Farm, located close to the Jefferson–Walworth county boundary, in the same round of rulings. It makes sense to combine solar and wind energy because solar energy peaks during the day, while wind is typically stronger at night or during different times of year.
According to research by Clean Wisconsin, there are other benefits, like better water quality when solar panels reduce fertilizer from specific crops. Therefore, regulators see these permits as a reaction to climate policy, local economic strength, and environmental health. Initiatives like the Badger Hollow Project, that help the state in gaining knowledge in operations, location, and community benefits, are also part of this environment.
What “energy transition” means for communities
The effects that have on families show up in three simple ways:
- Reliable electricity: By incorporating wind and solar energy, Wisconsin’s clean energy supply is improved. These resources work in parallel to reducing reliance on fossil fuels because their peaks happen at different periods. This helps many states achieve their bigger energy transition goals.
- Local opportunity. For farmers and landowners, land leases can offer regular revenue, and construction and maintenance create jobs. Communities benefit more when they are involved from the beginning, helping to choose appropriate sites, establishing project guidelines, and communicating the outcomes, according to advocates like Rick Coelho.
- Cleaner surroundings: Since renewable energy sources don’t burn fuel, they don’t emit any pollutants while they’re in use either. In order to improve the project execution, regulators are also pushing for bigger and more effective turbines that are made to produce less noise and collect more energy per unit. By linking renewable energy to cleaner lakes and streams, the state also demonstrated possible improvements in water quality with the Whitewater Solar Farm.
A transparent planning and siting process provides a fair approach for developers and communities, making easier the development of the projects.
The road up ahead
Wind and solar energy can power homes, provide income in rural communities, and reduce pollution all at once thanks to the wind projects in Iowa and Grant counties. Wisconsin already has a foundation to grow around, as shown by projects like the Badger Hollow Project. Now that new wind is coming online after years of silence, the state can develop more quickly and wisely.
What comes now? Continue involving communities, monitoring outcomes, refining design, and finding benefits that people can observe.