Dozens of residents gathered in the Christiana Town Hall on Oct. 12 for a meeting on Phase II of the solar farm. 
Jeanne McMillen, who owns a farm in Christiana, said Phase II of solar would surround her farmland. She protested its impact on farmland in the town. 
Janice Redford held up signs during the Christiana town board meeting saying there is “enough” solar, and the town should fight Phase II. 
Dozens of residents gathered in the Christiana Town Hall on Oct. 12 for a meeting on Phase II of the solar farm. 
Jeanne McMillen, who owns a farm in Christiana, said Phase II of solar would surround her farmland. She protested its impact on farmland in the town. 
Janice Redford held up signs during the Christiana town board meeting saying there is “enough” solar, and the town should fight Phase II. 
Dozens of residents gathered in the Christiana Town Hall on Monday night to protest Phase II of the Koshkonong solar project.
The solar project operated by Invenergy, a Chicago-based renewable energy company, is a 1,500 acre solar farm in the towns of Christiana and Deerfield.
Before Phase I was developed, the Town of Christiana fought the proposal, getting into years of legal battles. But the town lost these lawsuits, and Phase I construction started last April, with a goal to finish by the end of this year.
And with Phase II planned for as early as late next year, the Town of Christiana asked residents to attend the Oct. 12 town board meeting to share thoughts on what the town should do.
Ahead of public comment, Town Supervisor Dawn Redford presented to residents on several options the town could take on Phase II.
“Our goal tonight is not to litigate private property decisions, our sole focus as a town board is protecting what we all share,” Redford said.
She pitched what the board saw as five options for the town on Phase II, and asked residents to share which options they preferred.
First, the board could launch a massive legal battle to force a federal review. Redford said they already lost at the state level so this would be the only legal recourse.
But Redford said the board didn’t recommend this option because it would lead to significant legal costs.
Second, the town could become an intervenor, making them an official legal party in the Public Service Commission’s decision on the application from the solar company for Phase II. The PSC reserves final decision on the solar farm, though it does take public input and testimony during the process.
Redford said, as an intervenor, the town could present expert testimony to ideally get strict regulations on stormwater, engineering and soil preservation.
Third, Redford said the town could pursue land development agreements. In this option, the town would acknowledge that the solar is coming in anyway, but the town can still provide strict requirements on construction and maintenance within a development agreement.
The development agreement could limit road usage, for example, or make rules about repairing roads after construction.
Fourth, Redford said the town could opt for a dual strategy that used the intervenor status and development agreement to get strict conditions with solar production.
Fifth, Redford said the town could do nothing, and not expend any resources to fight or manage the solar farms coming in.
Redford said she didn’t like that option either, but the town is using taxpayers money, and if that’s what taxpayers want, the town board could choose to take no action.
She asked residents at the meeting to share which of these options they preferred.
Eight residents spoke about transmission lines, most as farmers with concerns about continuing to expand the solar project that they were against in the first place.
Janice Redford said she was firmly against more solar and she would “not stop fighting” more going in.
“They’ve already destroyed enough land here,” Janice said.
Mark Sewell said he’s watched these fights happen in other communities, and the utility companies often win court fights. But he said the board should “at least” become an intervenor so they can speak on the PSC application.
Dane County Supervisor Kerry Marren said she was there to help them navigate how the town could respond to the project, and even if they couldn’t do anything to change the situation, their action could help other communities prevent these situations in the future.
“It might not be ideal for us, but we might set another example for those who are going through it,” Marren said.
Supervisor Redford agreed. Redford said, while the town didn’t gain any wins from fighting Phase I of the solar project, it was a learning process to help the town understand state laws that allow these types of projects to go through.
Town Board Chair Jim Lowrey added that he’s had discussions with Invenergy about the solar farm, and they’re willing to work with the town. He said if the town has to accept solar, they can at least get an agreement in place that benefits the town.
“A lot of what you brought up tonight can be brought up with Invenergy once they have that PSC approval for our road agreement,” Lowrey said.
Invenergy Development Manager Sam Heagney said Invenergy is willing to work with the town.
“Our hope is to work with the town of Christiana because this project is a meaningful opportunity for both the landowners involved and town residents to improve local services, infrastructure, and futures for all,” Heagney said in a statement to the Leader Independent. “As we have been throughout development and construction, we are willing to show up, listen, and discuss how we can work together to address concerns raised.”
The application for Phase II is not yet submitted to the Public Service Commission, the state agency that regulates utility projects.
When finished, Phase I will generate 300 megawatts of solar energy and bring in $1.5 million in revenue from utility aid payments split between the towns of Deerfield and Christiana, and Dane County. Phase II will generate 110 megawatts of solar energy and bring in over $700,000 in revenue.
Representatives from Invenergy said utility aid payments will likely begin next year when operation of the solar energy begins.
Lowrey said in a phone call with the Leader Independent on Oct. 14 the town board hasn’t decided its next steps. The town is waiting on the results of a survey that was available at the town board meeting and on the website for residents to share what they hope the town board will do.
“We’re waiting to see what the people of the township find most important to them,” Lowrey said.
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