MADISON — State Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and Representative Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City) have introduced legislation to require local elected officials and municipalities to sign off on large wind and solar projects as they are going through the approval process.

“Representative Tranel and I have heard ongoing concerns from many of our constituents who are concerned that their local elected officials do not have a voice in the process of approving wind and solar projects,” Marklein said. “Given the level of feedback we have received, we believed it was important to address this issue early in the legislative session and make it a top priority. This bill gives an opportunity to restore local control to municipalities and their elected officials, giving them a seat at the table when large scale solar and wind projects are being discussed.”

Under current state law, the Public Service Commission (PSC) is responsible for granting a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for proposed large wind and solar facilities without any approval from local officials.

“I hope we can move this common-sense legislation forward and address the concerns we have been hearing from both Democrat and Republican constituents regarding the huge, industrial wind and solar projects coming to rural Wisconsin,” said Rep. Tranel. “Local units of government should have a say in the siting of these massive projects, which can drastically change the appearance of places like the Driftless Region and impact the state’s agricultural economy in the long term.”

This bill would amend the review process to require the municipality to approve or disprove a project no later than 90 days after receiving a request. The PSC would be unable to complete its evaluation until every municipality within the proposed area has approved the project.

SB 3 was introduced on Jan. 24. SB 3 was referred to the Senate Committee on Utilities & Tourism and the Assembly companion bill is awaiting a bill number and committee assignment.