Gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Minocqua) met with town of Dallas residents on Friday over concerns of a proposed solar project on farm land.
Gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Minocqua) met with town of Dallas residents on Friday over concerns of a proposed solar project on farm land.
DALLAS — Gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Minoqua) stopped in the Town of Dallas in Barron County on Friday, urging for more public hearings about a solar project planned for an agricultural field.
Tiffany spoke to the Leader-Telegram prior to the event Friday night. He said that State Sen. Romaine Quinn (R-Rice Lake) and Rep. David Armstrong (R-Barron) have fielded numerous requests for a public hearing about the project. He opted to make a campaign stop to discuss the topic with concerned area residents.
“It’s an important issue. For the past six years, I’ve been sounding the alarm on this conversion of farm land. It’s driven up the utility rates. It’s destroying thousand of acres of our farmland,” Tiffany told the Leader-Telegram.
The proposal calls for a 900-acre, 100-megawatt Sandhill Solar development. According to a pamphlet distributed about Friday’s hearing, New York-based MN8 has not yet filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, but they anticipate that will happen by the end of the year.
“If the proposed 900-acre Sandhill Solar Project is also approved, nearly 2,500 acres of productive farmland would be devoted to utility-scale solar within a 10-mile radius,” the pamphlet states.
Tiffany said the project needs a full review before the application is filed.
“People want to be heard on this issue. We just want to hear from the public,” Tiffany said.
Tiffany noted that legislation has been introduceed that would require local input before a project like this moves forward. He said if he becomes governor, he would sign that into law.
“Wind and solar only works 25% of the time,” Tiffany said. “There is a place for wind and solar, it’s just not on farmland.”
Tiffany previously introduced legislation that would eliminate most subsidies for solar and wind energy projects on farm land. The measure is titled Future Agricultural Retention and Management (FARM) Act.
Tiffany is running for governor as a Republican. He will face Andy Manske of Milwaukee on the Aug. 11 primary. The winner will advance to the general election in November. The remaining Democratic candidates are State Rep. Francesca Hong of Madison, State Sen. Kelda Roys of Madison, Milwaukee County executive David Crowley and former Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan. Three other candidates will be on the Democratic ballot but have since dropped out.
Barron County is part of Tiffany’s Seventh Congressional District. He said he was enjoying being in the Northwoods on Friday. He’s optimistic about his campaign.
“We’re really excited for the stretch run,” Tiffany said.
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