Nolan Wick joined the 27 News Team in November 2025 as a multimedia journalist and reporter. He graduated from Penn State in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a minor in Political Science.
State Republicans working to pass solar energy bill
MADISON (WKOW) — A new legislative push is underway to expand community solar projects for Wisconsin farmers.
State Sen. Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point, is advocating for Assembly Bill 493, a community solar proposal aimed at addressing high utility rates across the state.
Testin cited programs in Minnesota and Illinois, along with Wisconsin having the highest utility costs in the Midwest, as reasons for supporting the bill. He said the legislation would give local governments more input.
“They are smaller developments where we’re not taking valuable agricultural land out of commission for the next 25 to 30 years,” Testin said. “And really, the big thing here is that with community solar projects, it provides for local control. So there is buy-in from local units of government and local elected officials.”
However, Alliant Energy opposes the bill. Spokesperson Zack Hill testified during a December hearing that the proposal would not lower costs for consumers.
“All you have to remember is this: When a company promises you a discount, someone else has to pay for it,” Hill said. “It’s all the other utility customers at two to four times the cost of energy under this bill, again, for the next 25 years.”
Testin said he has heard from several constituents frustrated by what they see as a lack of input in energy production decisions. He believes the bill would give them more choice.
“There is a frustration and a point of contention with a lot of individuals back home,” Testin said. “They’re saying, ‘Look, we understand we need more energy production, but we didn’t feel as though we had a say in the process.'”
The bill has not been scheduled for a vote in either the state Senate or Assembly.
Nolan Wick joined the 27 News Team in November 2025 as a multimedia journalist and reporter. He graduated from Penn State in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a minor in Political Science.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:
