St. Croix County Solar Project Sees Opposition from Community

Some St. Croix County area residents are expressing opposition to plans for a massive solar energy project from XCel Energy.

The company is still in the early planning stages of the project, acquiring the land rights necessary for the 5,000 acre solar field. Xcel Energy is in the process of closing a coal-fueled power plant near Stillwater, and are looking to replace that energy production with clean alternatives. That plant is scheduled to close in 2028.

Some St. Croix County residents are not thrilled about the project and what it could mean for local farming and wildlife. According to a CBS News report, over 2,100 people have signed an online petition advocating against the project. Many say while they are in favor of alternative energy projects, the solar fields could have a negative impact on the area’s environment.

XCel Energy officials say the project would create hundreds of jobs and help them achieve their goal of providing 85% carbon-free energy by 2030. Because the project is still in the early stages of planning, they have not yet submitted an application for it to the Wisconsin Public Services Commission. After doing so, environmental impact studies would be conducted as part of the review process.

Solar energy has become increasingly popular in Western Wisconsin in recent years. Over the summer, Dunn County Energy Co-op held a ribbon cutting ceremony for significantly smaller solar farms in Boyceville and Colfax. Those solar arrays will still produce enough clean energy for up to 800 homes a year, and the organization is planning another solar project in Elk Mound.