By U.S. Rep. Tony Wied

In 2009, Gov. (Jim) Doyle signed Wisconsin Act 40 into law, significantly limiting the ability of local governments to have input on energy projects proposed in their communities. Since then, that top-down approach has only intensified.

Over the past year, I’ve heard from countless constituents who feel ignored and overruled as large-scale wind and solar projects are sited with little regard for local input.

Under Gov. Tony Evers, it’s become glaringly obvious that the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) views local input as merely a box to check off their list on the way to a predetermined outcome. Too often, the PSC has approved massive energy developments over local objections. Projects like Vista Sands in Portage County and Badger Hollow in Iowa and Grant Counties have moved forward despite serious concerns from residents and town boards. In the Town of Morgan, developers didn’t even bother to show up to the listening session on their project.

That’s why this week I sent a letter to the chairs of the Wisconsin State Legislature’s energy committees urging them to advance Senate Bill 3/Assembly Bill 7 to restore local control and give communities a real say in what gets built in their backyards. This legislation would correct the imbalance by requiring the PSC to have a resolution of support from the impacted community before approving a project.

I also sent a letter to PSC Chair Summer Strand urging the Commission to adopt reforms that prioritize local support and transparency. It’s wrong to force local governments to stand by while unelected bureaucrats in Madison make decisions about projects that they’ll never live next to, in towns they may never even visit. It’s time to restore local voices.

Click here to read my letter to the legislature or click here to read my letter to the PSC.