Solar panels (WSBT photo)
CLINTONVILLE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Some Waupaca County residents are speaking out about a solar project that could be built right in their backyard.
Many voiced concerns Thursday about the project’s potential impact on the environment and their property values.
NextEra Energy, a Florida-based renewable energy company, is behind the project.
“It’s important to have these informational sessions because we can get facts and truth out there to questions that they may not have the answer to,” said Danilo Cabrera, NextEra Energy project director.
Cabrera said the Pigeon River Energy Center would feature 175 megawatts of solar generation, plus a 175-megawatt battery energy storage system. On the low end, just one megawatt can power up to 200 homes. Multiply that by 175 and you get roughly 35,000 homes.
The project would cost roughly $581 million, which would be entirely paid for by NextEra Energy. The company has signed for 2,200 acres of land, but said the project would only use 658 acres. NextEra Energy said it has yet to finish maps of exactly where the panels would go, but whatever land isn’t used will be returned to the original landowner.
The panels could end up right next to Jenni Yaeger’s property.
“I live in the country to get away, to see nature, to see things like that,” said Yaeger.
NextEra Energy said it has developed hundreds of projects and no data suggests property value drops.
Yaegar said, “If I want to sell my property, no one’s going to want to look out their window and see that. That’s all they’re going to see. People just don’t like eyesores, right?”
Per its presentation, NextEra Energy said the community would receive more than $1 million annually in tax revenue.
“I think it’s very important to understand all the benefits the local community is going to receive. This project alone is going to provide over a million dollars a year to the local community, where they can allocate to whatever important initiatives they have,” said Cabrera.
The company must apply for a permit from the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. NextEra said its application will be submitted this summer. The permit process could take six months to up to a year. Cabrera said if approved, NextEra Energy doesn’t expect to start construction until 2028.
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