No-Uplands’ OPPOSITION VOLUNTEERS

This web resource was launched by a dozen individuals in 2021 when it became apparent that the independent, unpaid, volunteer research these individuals were conducting would be more useful to the public if consolidated, fact checked and shared, on-line. Their investigations of contemporary, utility-scale wind power plant development were initially spurred by the 600 MW UPLANDS WIND proposal and expanded to the 118 MW BADGER HOLLOW WIND and ~67 MW WHITETAIL projects sought by merchant utility developers in Iowa, Grant and Lafayette Counties. Wisconsin. The above listed, “8 Page Mailer” was the first project opposition volunteers produced. Questions about this handout can be addressed to volunteers through info@no-uplands.com.

This web resource is not part of any organization, group, business or government entity. The modest costs are burdened solely by volunteers who are not paid and do not accept donations, materials or in-kind services from any business, non-profit or governmental interests.

SELECT NEWS ITEMS

WIND DEVELOPMENT INTEREST IN SW WISCONSIN

Project Updates

The approximate, to-scale, project infrastructure depicted above for the UPLANDS WIND proposal is based on a map in Pattern Energy’s Engineering Plan submitted the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin on September 27, 2023. The developer has since indicated that the project layout is undergoing changes. For more recent information, there is an inquiry form on the developer’s website as well as additional contact information in the developer’s FAQ.

Project infrastructure depicted above for the BADGER HOLLOW WIND proposal is based on a map in Invenergy’s Engineering Plan submitted the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin on May 20, 2024. Subsequently, the developer has submitted an application to the Commission with maps portraying changes including those filed on February 6, 2025 in Appendixes U, H, Z, Y, X & L. All docket filings, to date, can be found here A fairly complete list of application filings, with links, may be found here. A schedule of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin’s on-going review process can be found here.

The depicted infrastructure layout for the WHITETAIL WIND project is based on a map in the original developer’s May 2, 2023 Application to Grant County but the project has since been purchased by Invenergy LLC. As of March 2025, materials provided by the new developer do not include maps or infrastructure siting information. There is an inquiry form with contact information on the developer’s website.

There are Better, Land & Community-Compatible Ways to Reduce CO2 Emissions!

Wisconsin already has more electrical power plants than we can use.¹⁹ (Table) As electric customers, we must pay the high interest debt on existing and added power plants over 40 years whether fully utilized or not. Pattern LLC’s inferred savings from the “zero fuel costs”²⁰ of wind power compare very poorly to directly addressing our CO2 and economic challenges with familiar alternatives. Here’s how:

We estimate electric customer costs for the wind turbine system at $1.8 billion over 40 years. We note that Wisconsin already has more power plants than we can use and that the demand for power is dropping. In 2021, Wisconsinites used 2.6% less power than in 2007– and with 7% more households using power! We don’t need any kind of new power plants.³

The Uplands developer claims the turbines would reduce CO2 emissions but our analysis shows that spending the $1.8 billion, instead, to incentivize improvements to Wisconsin dwellings, appliances, equipment and on-site solar would reduce far more emissions. Our precious landscapes would not be permanently marred and customers would save many millions by avoiding unnecessary waste.⁴

Below, are two, Alternatives to Uplands based on increasing Wisconsin’s successful, Focus on Energy rebates. The $1.8 billion invested, instead, to boost to the Focus on Energy program would reduce twice the emissions of Uplands and save about $152 million per year. Alternatively funding 900,000 households with Focus on Energy solar incentives would reduce 4 times the CO2 emissions of Uplands while creating more than $500 million in avoided utility power use per year.

Alternatively doubling the home/business solar panel incentive to 52 cents of the approximate $2.50 per watt cost could empower about 450,000 households to “go solar” and save an average of $143 per month.²³ Creating attractive appliance and equipment rebates for Wisconsin families and businesses would enable long overdue efficiency and dwelling improvements with the superior environmental results.²⁴

There are also critical climate change and energy planning considerations for stopping the very costly Uplands proposal in its tracks. Wisconsin energy law deregulations at the turn of the century excluded “merchant” power plants built by developers like Pattern from normal evaluation by the State of Wisconsin. As a result, Pattern would not be required to demonstrate that there is an electrical need for the plant or to honor Wisconsin Energy Priority Law by conducting economic and CO2 reduction analysis comparing benefits of investing the same $1.8 billion into highly attractive conservation, energy efficiency and local power alternatives. ²⁹

Below: Large Turnout of Southern and Southwestern Wisconsin Residents at a Listening Session with Wisconsin Lawmakers Sen. Howard Marklein, Rep. Todd Novak and Rep. Travis Tranel, May 28, 2021 Belmont, Wisconsin.