Wisconsin Rapids holds hearing on possible solar power plant

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WFHR / WIRI) – About 60 people showed up at a Wisconsin Rapids public hearing on Monday night, over a proposed solar power plant that Water Works and Lighting Commission (WWLC) would like to have built on city land.

The plant would be built by an independent power producer, OneEnergy.

Many shared their thoughts about the proposal in public comment. Some questioned why the project couldn’t be built on roofs or above parking lots.

Stanley Minnick, Project Development and Manager with OneEnergy says he’s in favor of multiple types of solar, including rooftop and carport. However, they’re more expensive to install.

“The fact remains that for the amount of energy you get out of a solar panel, you’re going to get more productivity and higher output by putting it on that single axis tracker,” says Minnick.

Other considered locations

Other locations mentioned in comments included the roof of Walmart, the landfill, or the old Kraft Mill site. General Manager of WWLC Todd Weiler explained that Walmart’s roof isn’t owned by the city, nor is it structurally capable of supporting the panels.

The landfill is a poor option because the panels sink over time and cause wires to break. The Kraft Mill site is also not owned by the city.

Why can’t WWLC do it themselves?

Resident Cal Thomas asked why WWLC wouldn’t just build the project themselves.

“[I question] why more consideration hasn’t been given into a greater investment in doing it themselves if they believe strongly here,” says Thomas.

Weiler says a 5 megawatt project would cost about $13 million dollars to build and that cost would then be transferred to customers over the next 20 years.

Weiler explained that the project was bidded out and the commission chose OneEnergy.

“ OneEnergy was chosen because their buyback cost was the lowest of all of the other 37, but also they were from Wisconsin, which we felt really good about. They are very good at at maintaining their sites,” explains Weiler. “And they have a track record to show that.”

The chosen location gives residents pause

Several residents questioned the location, including Cyndi Zanow, who said this project came out of left field and isn’t right for a residential area.

“I understand what you’re trying to do and I applaud that. I just don’t like the location,” explains Zanow.

The parcel on Whitrock and Two Mile Avenue is located within the wellhead protection overlay district. Several asked about well contamination, including Susan Faust.

“If we have a hydraulic leak, that’s going to go into our ground?” questioned Faust.

Weiler said he could not find any research that showed these panels cause groundwater contamination.

“If you can find some type of research that shows that, I would love to see it because, I too would then say, we can’t do this because it’s above our wells.”

Solar panels do contain toxic heavy metals, which are sealed with glass. While the glass can break and release metals under extreme weather events, like tornados, working solar panels do not leach toxic metals, according to an EPA fact sheet. Some solar panels, though, can exceed toxic thresholds at the end of their life. 

Next steps

The proposal moved through the Finance and Property Committee on Tuesday night. It will move to the Common Council on December 16th if the Council chooses to take it up.