Everyday Wisconsinites Take on Wind and Solar Schemes
Rising energy prices will determine Wisconsin elections in November.
Wind and solar companies are gobbling up farmland and raising energy prices across Wisconsin. But average citizens are pushing back with grassroots efforts that could impact the midterm elections.
They have new battle cry: “Farmland First!” That’s also the name of a new nonprofit group that has been circulating material online warning concerned citizens about the “predatory tactics used by industrial wind & solar companies in order to coerce landowners to sign away their property rights in the name of green energy.”
Predatory Price Hikes
Wisconsin residents have seen the second fastest growth in electricity prices in the Midwest since 2001, according to a report from Always On Energy Research. Wisconsin's surge in electricity prices exceeds the national average by a whopping 41 percent. Electricity prices have more than doubled from 6.08 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) in 2001 to 12.72 cents per kWh in 2024. The study points to the premature closure of coal plants along with the construction costs of wind, solar, and battery storage facilities as key factors behind the sharp spike
But as wind and solar projects continue to metastasize across the state, residents point to another problem beyond just the cost. They increasingly decry the environmental damage caused by these facilities, even though proponents claim change need them to fight global warming. Restoration News spoke to several Wisconsinites to get their take on the impact of wind and solar on their communities. Some also commented on the potential political fallout this fall. These are their stories.
The Battle Against the Big Green Machine
Lorie Voss, a Marathon County resident and former business owner, views the climate initiatives Democrats push as a net minus for her state both environmentally and economically. For this reason, she sees an opportunity for Republicans to make inroads with voters this fall if they would take on rising energy costs along with the expected environmental damage.
"I call it the green new scam," said Voss, who is a member of Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a grassroots group that supports free market policies. She pushes back against claims from the environmental lobby that ratepayers will see reduced prices in the long run. "You are never going to recoup your money," she said. "You are never going to get your money back out of what these green new scams cost." Voss calls the talk of green energy misleading, citing examples of dead, unrecyclable windmill blades piling up in fields.
Voss does not expect the "liberals in [the capital city of] Madison" to be moved by the failures of green energy projects. Instead, she thinks a strong turnout by those who do not want windmills located near their properties will have a direct effect on the election.
David vs. Goliath
But can the grassroots movement to preserve farmland continue to make progress despite the money and organization standing behind climate activists? The three biggest utilities in Wisconsin are We Energies, Alliant Energy, and Xcel Energy. Another group of activists, Farmland First, formed in 2023 to push back against costly environmental boondoggles. It has grown to include about 3,000 members.
But it is no position to compete financially against the utilities and companies supporting wind projects, Tom Wilcox, the group’s executive director told Restoration News. Instead, Farmland First continues to sound the alarm over what Wilcox and others see as a concerted effort to cajole landowners into surrendering their property rights in the name of green energy.
“Right from the beginning we have been about education," said Wilcox who would like to see his group serve as a counterbalance to public relations campaigns of wind energy companies.
“We started out just trying to educate the public,” he continued. “But now I think we are spending more than half our time educating elected officials.”
In its public outreach, Farmland First touches on a range of economic, environmental and health questions associated with wind and solar development. Under the educational links included as part of the Farmland First’s homepage, there is a vast collection of articles and reports concerned citizens can reference.
Meanwhile, the green energy outfits continue to buy their way into communities. The newest climate initiative to watch is Alliant Energy’s proposed Hub City Wind Farm in Marathan County. The project could include up to 38 turbines.
Wind companies in Wisconsin give out money for schools in Wisconsin through direct donations. They also do it with state tax revenue-sharing programs and renewable energy education grants.
Whatever financial contributions these companies might dole out to townships and counties, Wilcox warned, are not likely to cover the damage that will result from the installation and construction.
Wilcox also cautions farmers against putting too much faith into leases that might initially seem lucrative. Wind companies pay farmers a lease to operate on their property instead of buying it outright.
"Think about this, if they are going to pay you in five years what the whole farm is worth, why wouldn't they just buy it and put up their wind turbines and do whatever they want," Wilcox said. "I think the answer to that is they lease it so that if something goes wrong, they can walk away from the project and leave the landowner with the clean-up cost."
Utilities End Up Getting Something for Nothing
As Wilcox explained, the leases eventually get converted into easements—legal agreements that enable wind or solar companies to use a farmer’s land with no further compensation.
While it would seem the climate movement pushing green schemes have all the financial and political advantages, average citizens can level the playing field.
Farmers did claim a scalp from another green energy outlet, EDP Renewables, in 2024. EDP attempted to coerce wind projects into areas of Marathon County that opposed them. As Wilcox observed, the wind companies have a penchant for ignoring a key part of a Wisconsin law.
The relevant statute says local governments cannot be more restrictive than the state government in terms of how they regulate wind and solar.
"That's where the wind companies want to stop reading," Wilcox said. "But if you read further on, it says except to protect the health and safety of its residents. So, it's been our position for a while that local municipalities can regulate if they hone in on this health and safety aspect."
So far, 16 towns have adopted health and safety ordinances in line with what Farmland First has advocated while stirring the ire of wind companies. In 2024, EDP Renewable sued the towns of Brighton and Eau Pleine in Marathon County for the purpose of overturning the ordinances. But in May 2025 a court ruled in favor of the towns.
How This Affects Elections in November
Outgoing Gov. Tony Evers (D) has consistently supported taxpayer funded wind and solar plans across Wisconsin. Just after taking office in 2019, he signed an executive order that committed the state to achieving the goal of a 100% carbon-free electricity consumption grid by 2050. Evers' carbon-free energy strategy relies almost exclusively on wind and solar.
By contrast, current US Rep. Tom Tiffany, the likely Republican nominee for governor, is the lead sponsor of the Farm Act, which would end taxpayer subsidies for wind and solar projects built on agricultural land. Tiffany has also consistently supported reliable domestic oil and gas production.
Over on the Democratic side, there is no clear front runner with Evers declining to seek a third term. However, a recent poll gives State Rep. Francesca Hong a narrow lead for the Aug. 11 primary. Hong's campaign website indicates she adheres to Evers on climate policy. Hong, a proud member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), supports policies that would make Wisconsin "carbon-neutral" by 2050. She favors the use of "purchase rebates" to spur the purchase of electric vehicles, and the creation of a taxpayer-funded state "green bank" designed to attract private investment into green energy.
Aside from the gubernatorial election, there are competitive races in Wisconsin’s first, third, and seventh congressional districts, and control of the state legislature is up for grabs. Incumbent Republican Bryan Steil is running for reelection in the first district and incumbent Republican Derrick Van Orden is running for reelection in the third district. Tiffany is giving up his seat in the seventh district where four Republicans are running in primary.
As a critical swing state, Wisconsin could help determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Republicans have a strong candidate to take back the governor's mansion.
Energy prices will determine who wins these key races.
MORE COVERAGE FROM RESTORATION NEWS
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Meddling in Elections: Biden Gave $218 Million to Marxist “Enviro Justice” Groups to End Climate Racism
Stop the Abuse: The End EPA Abuse Act Seeks to Limit EPA's Adherence to Climate Psychosis
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