Community Solar Bill has a public hearing at the Capitol

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WFHR / WIRI) – As the Wisconsin Rapids community is divided over a potential new solar power plant, the State Legislature is considering a bill that would allow competitive service providers to build smaller scale solar projects.

Commonly referred to as the Community Solar Bill, Senate Bill 559 would give local governments some control, while expanding energy options.

The Committee on Transportation and Local Government heard public comment in Madison on Tuesday. Several representatives from the state’s largest utility companies spoke at the hearing.

Alliant Energy is against the bill

Zack Hill is Sr. Public and Community Affairs Manager at Alliant Energy. He spoke against the bill.

“While SB 559 would provide local governments with more approval authority,” explained Hill. “Advocates of the bill won’t tell you that, because this bill does not allow utilities to own projects under the new program, those governments will not receive utility aid payments or shared revenue payments which can be hundreds if not thousands of times higher than property taxes that these solar companies would pay.”

WEC Energy Group is also against the bill

Joel Haubrich is a manager with WEC Energy Group, the parent company of WE Energies and others. He says the bill allows a developer to open up a facility with a minimum of three subscribers and the utility would be required to purchase the unused subscriptions for up to two years. 

“That’s our biggest concern is it’s a mandate to purchase,” says Haubrich. “It’s a mandate to purchase at a higher price.”

Madison Gas and Electric spoke against the bill as well

Matthew Spencer, Government Relations Director for Madison Gas and Electric, says the current regulated model protects customers.

“It’s a bipartisan program and it ensures reliability and ensures consumer protections that are not found in this legislation,” says Spencer.

He mentioned the concern of non-subscribers paying higher rates because of a community solar program under the bill.

“Under our regulated model, you are not subsidizing a program that someone does not wish to join,” explains Spencer. “That’s not the same thing that’s going to be happening under this bill.”

Energy consultant speaking in favor of the bill

Karl Rabago operates an Energy Consultancy, Rabago Energy LLC out of Colorado. He spoke highly of the bill, based on over 30 years of experience in energy. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Colorado Electric Transmission Authority.

“SB 559 embodies years of learning and experience and reflects the most comprehensive and thoughtful set of conditions for establishing and conducting a good community solar program that I’ve seen,” says Rabago.

He commented on what the larger utility companies had to say earlier in the hearing.

“The utility position to summarize seems to sound a bit like, Let us do it all and no one gets hurt.”

Smaller utilities and contractors approve of the community solar bill

Sarah Moon is co-founder of Fieldworks Power, LLC, a community-scaled solar developor.

“This bill, we think, creates an exciting, competitive, and affordable energy solution for Wisconsin,” says Moon.

A smaller utility contractor out of Ashland spoke in favor. Ryan Jolma is the owner of Jolma Utilities.

“I think that’s ultimately all I’m asking with this bill is to give opportunity. I know of many small businesses here in Wisconsin that would benefit from this,” says Jolma. 

Will Flanders spoke in favor representing the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty.

“It’s not a silver bullet, but it is a smart, conservative, free market tool that strengthens our grid, expands consumer choice, and respects local control and property rights,” he says.

Others weigh in

Lawmakers in support of community solar development include State Sen. Patrick Testin (R – Stevens Point) and Rep. Scott Krug (R-Rome). They say expanding beyond investor-owned utilities gives municipal governments more options, and returns local control to residents.

“It is an alternative option to our current method of centralized control, where small towns, like my home town of Rome, can actually have a voice in their local zoning and land use decisions at the municipal level,” said Rep. Scott Krug (R-Rome), adding that communities would get “real input and control over where projects are sited.”

As of Thursday, seven organizations had registered in support, including RENEW Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty. Sixteen had registered against, including Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, a coalition of labor groups, and Xcel Energy.

The bill was introduced in October, and would need approval from the Committee on Transportation and Local Government before heading to the state Senate for a vote. A sister bill in the state Assembly is still in committee.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story misidentified eligibility rules under the program, and has been corrected.