PSC: no significant environmental impacts

Wisconsin’s utility regulators have determined the 2,200-acre Badger Hollow Solar Farm in Iowa County does not have the potential to “significantly affect the quality of the human environment” and therefore did not require full-scale environmental review.

Public Service Commission staff did a more cursory environmental assessment, concluding there would be no significant environmental effects aside from temporary disturbances during construction and the obvious visual impact.

“A visual change in the project area from open agricultural fields to a more industrial landscape would affect likely viewers differently,” said Paul Rahn, an environmental analyst for the PSC. “Some landowners that do not receive direct benefits from the project may react more negatively to the proposed project.”

Rahn suggested Badger-Hollow could use berms or vegetation to screen the views from neighboring properties.

Because of the way the project has been proposed, the PSC was unable to consider economic factors or evaluate alternate locations.

The PSC has not posted the environmental assessment on its website but says it will provide copies on request. However, an attorney representing opponents put a copy in the docket, making it publicly available.

Comments on the decision not to conduct an environmental review can be submitted to the PSC until Jan. 7. General comments on the project are due Jan. 23.

The PSC will hold public hearings on the project at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Jan. 24 at 303 W Chapel St., Dodgeville.