Wisconsin

Public Service Commission of Wisconsin approves Portage County solar farm

Published

1 month ago

December 12, 2024

Public Service Commission of Wisconsin approves Portage County solar farm

At full capacity, the Vista Sands Solar Project is expected to generate enough electricity to power over 200,000 Wisconsin homes.

The Vista Sands Solar Project proposed for Portage County received approval Thursday from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.

The solar project will be the largest of its kind in Wisconsin and among the most powerful in the country, generating nearly 1.3 gigawatts of electricity, a spokesperson for the project said Thursday afternoon in a news release. At full capacity, Vista Sands Solar will generate enough electricity to power over 200,000 Wisconsin homes.

More than half of the project, being built by Doral Renewables, will be in the Portage County town of Grant and most of the rest will be in the town of Plover, with a small section in the village of Plover. The county and communities will receive a total of $6.5 million a year in payments from the project.

“We are thrilled with the approval of the Vista Sands Solar Project by the PSCW,” said Jon Baker, vice president of development at Doral Renewables and project manager for the Vista Sands Solar Project, in the release. “This milestone marks an exciting new chapter for clean energy in Wisconsin.”

Baker went on to say that with years of careful planning and community engagement, approval of the project represents an opportunity for local economies in Portage County and a major step forward for Wisconsin in achieving its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

The company is leasing the land from the owners, mostly farmers. It gives the farmers the chance to diversify their sources of income. Doral will remain the owner of the project. Once it reaches the end of its lifespan, the company will remove the panels and the land will still belong to the farmers.

Several conservationists and wildlife advocates had raised concerns about the project’s proximity to the Buena Vista Grassland State Wildlife Area, home of the state’s largest population of threatened prairie chickens, calling for one-half and one-mile setbacks between the solar arrays and the prairie chicken booming grounds.

The final Environmental Impact Statement on the project also cited concerns about the proposal’s likely negative impacts to the prairie chickens, even if mitigation suggestions are followed. The Department of Natural Resources and Public Service Commission’s final EIS, released July 15, did not require those benchmarks, however.

Vista Sands Solar says it will not construct any panels within 500 feet of greater prairie chicken booming grounds identified by the Wisconsin DNR, according to the project’s website.

Between 5,700 to 7,900 acres of agricultural lands in the vicinity of the Buena Vista Wildlife Area will be restored to grasslands, according to the project website. Vista Sands Solar’s ecologists have designed a seed mix that will be used across the project area, creating a suitable environment for both native wildlife and solar energy generation, according to the website.

Clean Wisconsin, an organization that works to combat climate change and pollution in the air, water and land, submitted analysis to the Public Service Commission that shows Vista Sands is also likely to have significant water benefits in Portage County, boosting aquifer levels and reducing contamination in the water-depleted Central Sands region. The solar farm is anticipated to take 56 high-capacity wells out of normal operation and will greatly reduce the estimated 3 million pounds of fertilizer and 73,000 gallons of insecticide currently spread across the project area every year, according to Clean Wisconsin.

“Today, the PSC approved the biggest step toward curbing Wisconsin’s carbon emissions in the state’s history,” Katie Nekola, Clean Wisconsin general counsel, said in a news release. “This is significant because Wisconsin cannot meet its carbon reduction goals or contain customer costs without acknowledging and indeed embracing the need to invest in the least-cost, cleanest generation available.”

Vista Sands Solar also was designed to avoid waterways and no impacts to drainage are anticipated in the project area, according to its website.

Doral representatives stated in 2023 they hoped to have the necessary approvals for the project by the end of 2024. It will take about two years to build the project.

Vista Sands Solar will bring a total capital investment of nearly $2 billion and create approximately 500 jobs during construction and about 50 permanent jobs, stimulating local economic activity that will benefit local businesses, according to a spokesperson for the project.

Contact Karen Madden at kmadden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KMadden715, Instagram at @kmadden715 or Facebook at facebook.com/karen.madden.33.

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Wisconsin

Where does Wisconsin fit in the latest Big Ten men’s basketball power rankings?

Published

5 hours ago

January 14, 2025

Press Room

Where does Wisconsin fit in the latest Big Ten men’s basketball power rankings?

It really is anybody’s race in the Big Ten Conference with just over a month to play, as several teams are all within striking distance of one another.

That makes putting together the latest power rankings tough, as it is a pool of a lot of quality teams without really a defacto No. 1.

For now, Illinois sits atop things thanks to four key victories throughout the year. Oregon is second followed by Michigan State, Purdue and Michigan. Red-hot Wisconsin, winners of five in a row, comes in at No. 6.

Below is the latest Big Ten Conference men’s basketball power rankings:

1. Illinois (12-4)

2. Oregon (15-2)

3. Michigan State (14-2)

4. Purdue (13-4)

5. Michigan (13-3)

6. Wisconsin (13-3)

7. Maryland (12-4)

8. UCLA (11-5)

9. Ohio State (10-6)

10. Nebraska (12-4)

11. Iowa (12-4)

12. Penn State (12-5)

13. Northwestern (10-6)

14. Indiana (13-4)

15. Southern Cal (10-6)

16. Washington (9-7)

17. Rutgers (8-8)

18. Minnesota (8-8)

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Wisconsin

Ad wars begin in closely watched Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Published

13 hours ago

January 13, 2025

Press Room

Ad wars begin in closely watched Wisconsin Supreme Court race

It marks the first spending on TV ads in the closely watched race in the presidential swing state.

MADISON, Wisconsin — Ad wars in the hotly contested race for control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court are beginning.

Republican-backed candidate Brad Schimel is launching a $1.1 million television ad buy statewide on Tuesday, marking the first spending on TV ads in the closely watched race in the presidential swing state.

Schimel, a Waukesha County judge, faces Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford in the race for an open seat on the state’s highest court. The election is April 1.

If Crawford wins, liberals will maintain their 4-3 majority until at least 2028. If Schimel wins, conservatives will win back the majority they lost in 2023.

The race that year shattered national spending records in a judicial contest, with more than $51 million spent on both sides, based on a tally by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. The group, which tracks spending on campaigns, is estimating that a new record will be set this year.

The two candidates in this year’s race have raised more money so far than at the same point in the 2023 campaign.

Crawford last week reported raising $2.8 million from individual donors since getting into the race, compared with $2.2 million for Schimel.

Spending by outside groups, including the Democratic and Republican parties, is expected to far exceed what the candidates spend.

Races for Wisconsin Supreme Court are officially nonpartisan, but partisan interests line up behind their preferred candidates. The Wisconsin Democratic Party has endorsed Crawford, and Schimel is a former Republican attorney general who supports President-elect Donald Trump. Schimel served one term from 2015 to 2019.

The liberal-controlled court delivered a major win to Democrats in 2023 by striking down Republican-drawn legislative maps. Pending cases backed by liberals seek to protect abortion access in the state and impede Republican attempts to oust the state’s nonpartisan elections leader. A looming fight over the future of public sector union rights also has intensified interest in the Supreme Court race.

Schimel’s ad that launches on Tuesday will run on broadcast and cable TV in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, La Crosse and Wausau, his campaign said Monday.

The winner of the April 1 election will serve a 10-year term.

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Wisconsin

A look at the record, top wins of Wisconsin basketball coach Greg Gard as he closes in on win No. 200

Published

21 hours ago

January 13, 2025

Press Room

A look at the record, top wins of Wisconsin basketball coach Greg Gard as he closes in on win No. 200

MADISON – Bo Ryan, Harold “Bud” Foster, Walter “Doc” Meanwell and …. Greg Gard.

The Wisconsin men’s basketball program has been around since 1898 and during 127 seasons only three coaches have had enough success and longevity to win 200 games.

Gard is on the cusp of joining the fraternity.

The Badgers’ coach holds a 199-110 record heading into the team’s game against Ohio State on Tuesday night (8 p.m., Peacock). Reaching win No. 200 would not only put him in rare company at UW but also in the Big Ten, where only four other coaches have won 200 games at their current school.

Here is more about the Badgers’ coach.

How old is Wisconsin men’s basketball coach Greg Gard?

Gard is 54 years old. He was born on Dec. 3, 1970.

Has Greg Gard won a Big Ten title?

The Badgers have won two Big Ten championships under Gard’s leadership. The 2019-20 team finished with a 14-6 record and tied Maryland and Michigan State for the conference title. Two years later Wisconsin went 15-5 and shared the league championship with Illinois.

How much is Greg Gard’s salary?

According to USA Today, Gard had a yearly salary of $3,765,875 last season, which ranked fifth in the Big Ten. His contract runs through the 2028-29 season.

Who are Wisconsin’s men’s basketball coaching leaders

Bo Ryan, 2002-15: 364-130, .737

Harold “Bud” Foster, 1935-59: 265-267, .498

Walter “Doc” Meanwell, 1912-17, 21-34: 246-99, .712

GREG GARD, 2015-present: 199-110, .664

Steve Yoder, 1983-92: 128-165, .437

John Erickson, 1960-68: 100-114, .467

Dick Bennett, 1996-2000: 94-68, .580

John Powless, 1969-76: 88-108, .449

Bill Cofield, 1977-82: 63-101, .384

Emmett Angell, 1905-08: 43-15, .741

Where does Greg Gard’s record stand among Big Ten coaches

Gard ranks fifth in victories among Big Ten coaches at their current school and ranks sixth in longest tenure. Here is the list. Records are through Sunday.

Tom Izzo, Michigan State: 721-297, 30^th season

Matt Painter, Purdue: 460-207, 20^th season

Dan Altman, Oregon: 360-154-, 15^th season

Fran McCaffery, Iowa: 292-195, 15^th season

GREG GARD, WISCONSIN: 199-110, 10^th season

Chris Collins, Northwestern: 187-180, 12^th season

Brad Underwood, Illinois: 155-92, eighth season

Steve Pikiell, Rutgers: 140-130, ninth season

Mick Cronin, UCLA: 126-58, sixth season

Mike Woodson, Indiana: 76-44, fourth season

Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska: 75-98, sixth season

Kevin Willard, Maryland: 50-34, third season

Ben Johnson, Minnesota: 49-62, fourth season

Mike Rhoades, Penn State: 28-22, second season

Jake Diebler, Ohio State: 18-8, second season

Dusty May, Michigan: 13-3, first season

Eric Musselman, USC: 10-6, first season

Danny Sprinkle, Washington: 10-7, first season

What is Greg Gard’s year-by-year record?

Year	Rec.	Pct.	Conf.	Rec.	Finish	Postseason
2015-16	15-8	.652	Big Ten	12-6	T3rd	NCAA Sweet 16
2016-17	27-10	.730	Big Ten	12-6	T2nd	NCAA Sweet 16
2017-18	15-18	.455	Big Ten	7-11	9th
2018-19	23-11	.676	Big Ten	14-6	4th	NCAA Tour. (1st round)
2019-20	21-10	.677	Big Ten	14-6	T1st	NCAA Tour.*
2020-21	18-13	.581	Big Ten	10-10	T-6th	NCAA Tour. (2nd round)
2021-22	25-8	.758	Big Ten	15-5	T-1st	NCAA Tour. (2nd round)
2022-23	20-15	.571	Big Ten	9-11	T-11th	NIT semifinals
2023-24	22-14	.611	Big Ten	11-9	5th	NCAA Tour. (1st round)
2024-25	13-3	.813	Big Ten	3-2
Totals	199-110	.664	Big Ten	107-72

*auto bid – NCAA tournament canceled.

Top wins of the Greg Gard era

No. 1: Wisconsin beat UW-Green Bay, 84-79, Dec. 23, 2015

Gard’s first victory almost wasn’t. Wisconsin lost all but three points of a 30-point second-half lead before closing out the game with a crucial blocked shot by junior Vitto Brown and 8-for-9 shooting from the free throw line. Junior Nigel Hayes finished with 24 points. Redshirt freshman Ethan Happ posted 16 points and eight boards. Brown finished the night with 15 points and team highs in rebounds (nine) and blocks (three).

No. 15: Wisconsin beats Xavier, 66-63, March 20, 2016

This is one of the most iconic victories of the Gard era and it gave the Badgers a spot in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16. Junior Bronson Koenig is remembered for his last-second three-pointer from the corner. It was part of a breakout performance from a prolonged shooting slump. The La Crosse native drilled 6 three-pointers, including the bucket that tied the game with 14 seconds left.

No. 42: Wisconsin stuns No. 1 Villanova, March 17, 2017

The Badgers rallied from a seven-point deficit with 5½ minutes to play to defeat a Wildcats squad loaded with future NBA players Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo. Bronson Koenig hit 2 threes and score eight points during the comeback. Nigel Hayes had two buckets, including the go-ahead score with 11.4 seconds left. This victory sent the Badgers to the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight season to tie a Big Ten record shared with four other programs.

No. 101: Wisconsin beats Indiana, clinches Big Ten title share, March 7, 2020

The Badgers finished the season in a three-way tie for the Big Ten title with Maryland and Michigan State, but they won their share first, rallying from a seven-point deficit with 7 minutes to play to win their eighth straight game. Junior Nate Reuvers finished with 17 points for UW, Junior Micah Potter posted 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Brad Davison, also a junior, sealed the win with two free throws with 7.1 seconds to play.

No. 143: Wisconsin beats Purdue to gain Big Ten title share, March 1, 2022

Chucky Hepburn banked in a three-pointer with 1.5 seconds to play to lift Wisconsin to a victory that assured it of a share of the Big Ten crown. The points capped what was at the time a career-high 17 points for the freshman point guard. Junior Tyler Wahl led Wisconsin in points (19) and steals (five). Hepburn went 4 for 6 from three-point range and sophomore guard Johnny Davis flirted with a double-double (16 points, eight rebounds).

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