Solar Farms &
Land Stewardship

Jefferson County — including Fort Atkinson, Jefferson, and surrounding townships — is experiencing a rapid increase in utility‑scale solar development. These projects range from 50 to 300+ acres and are typically built by large energy developers partnering with Wisconsin utilities.

As of early 2026:

• Jefferson County has ~1,700 acres of approved or operational utility‑scale solar.

• The county has 191,783 acres of farmland, meaning solar currently occupies less than 1% of agricultural land.

• Most leases offered to landowners range from 20–30 years, with optional extensions up to 40–50 years depending on the developer.

• Contracts typically require developers to remove all equipment and restore the land at the end of the lease.

This expansion is part of a statewide shift as Wisconsin utilities reduce reliance on coal and natural gas and move toward renewable energy sources.

 Several forces are driving the surge:

1. Energy Transition

Wisconsin utilities are under pressure to:

• retire aging coal plants

• stabilize long‑term energy costs

• meet renewable energy targets

• reduce emissions

Solar is currently the cheapest new source of electricity to build.

2. Landowner Economics

Many farmers face:

• volatile corn/soybean markets

• rising equipment and input costs

• low milk prices

• aging farm operators with no successors

Solar leases offer predictable income that can stabilize a family farm.

3. Grid Infrastructure

Jefferson County has:

• strong transmission lines

• available substation capacity

• large contiguous parcels

This makes the region attractive to developers.

• Utility companies (e.g., WEC Energy Group, Alliant Energy)

• Private solar developers

• Local landowners leasing land

• County and township boards approving permits

• Residents living near proposed sites

• Energy consumers across Wisconsin

 For Landowners

• Stable, long‑term income

• Ability to keep land in the family

• Land can often still be used for sheep grazing or pollinator habitat

• Soil rests and recovers during the lease period

For the Community

• Increased tax revenue

• Local construction jobs

• Potential for community solar participation (if offered)

• Reduced reliance on coal and natural gas

For the Environment

• Lower emissions

• Pollinator‑friendly ground cover

• Reduced soil erosion

• No water contamination from fuel sources

 Visual Impact

Solar farms are visually disruptive to the rural landscape.

Loss of Farmland

Even though solar uses <1% of county farmland, people worry about:

• losing productive soil

• long-term land conversion

• the symbolism of farmland turning into energy fields

Long Leases

• 20–40 years feels like “forever” to many residents.

Uneven Benefits

• Most electricity generated does not directly power the immediate neighborhood.

• Benefits are regional, not hyper-local.

Trust Issues

Some residents worry about:

• corporate motives

• land restoration promises

• environmental risks (e.g., panel breakage, though modern panels are sealed and non-leaching)

 1. “It’s ruining the landscape.”

Many residents feel genuine grief seeing farmland replaced with industrial-looking panels.

This is a cultural and emotional loss, not just a land-use issue.

2. “Farmers are being pushed into this.”

Comments reflect frustration that:

• milk prices are low

• crop markets are unstable

• corporate farming is squeezing out family farms

Solar becomes a last-resort survival strategy, not a choice.

3. “This land feeds America — why cover it?”

Some fear that productive soil is being removed from agriculture permanently.

In reality, leases require land restoration, but the perception is that farmland is disappearing.

4. “The leases are too long.”

20–40 years feels like a generational loss.

People worry they’ll never see the land restored in their lifetime.

5. “Most of us don’t benefit directly.”

Residents see:

• landowners getting paid

• utilities getting power

• developers making money

But local households don’t see cheaper bills or direct perks.

6. “What about safety?”

Concerns include:

• tornado damage

• panel chemicals

• fire risk

• surveillance/data centers needing power

Most of these concerns stem from uncertainty, not malice.

7. “We still have plenty of farmland.”

Some residents counter the fear by pointing out:

• Jefferson County has nearly 200,000 acres of farmland

• Solar uses ~1,700 acres

• The county is not running out of farmland

This is factually correct — but doesn’t erase emotional concerns.

8. “Why not community-backed land leases?”

This is the most constructive idea in the thread.

Residents are asking for local control and local benefit, not just corporate development.

 Here are practical, realistic steps locals can take if they want to address the issues they’re seeing.

1. Explore Community-Backed Land Leases

Instead of a solar developer leasing land for 20–40 years, a local cooperative or nonprofit could:

• lease farmland

• support regenerative agriculture

• create community gardens

• run local produce markets

• preserve farmland through voluntary contributions

This keeps land productive and locally controlled.

2. Support “Adopt-a-Farm” Programs

Residents could voluntarily donate:

• $10–$50/month

• toward property taxes, equipment, or operational costs

This helps family farms stay afloat without needing solar leases.

3. Encourage Pollinator-Friendly Solar Buffers

If solar is coming anyway, the community can push for:

• native prairie plantings

• wildflower buffers

• sheep grazing

• visual screening with trees

This improves aesthetics and ecology.

4. Advocate for Community Solar Options

Some states allow residents to buy into a local solar farm and receive bill credits.

If Wisconsin expands these programs, locals could directly benefit.

5. Push for Better Siting Standards

Residents can request:

• setbacks from roads

• vegetative screening

• avoidance of prime soils

• clustering projects instead of scattering them

6. Create a Farmland Preservation Fund

A local nonprofit could raise money to:

• buy conservation easements

• protect high-quality farmland

• support young farmers

7. Attend Township Meetings

Most solar decisions happen at:

• township boards

• county zoning committees

Showing up matters.

Most community projects don’t begin with a big plan.
They start with one person, one question, or one conversation.
Here’s what starting a local initiative really looks like — in simple, doable steps.

1. Start With a Single Question

Every successful initiative begins with someone asking:

“Is anyone else seeing this?”
“Does this bother anyone else?”
“Is there a better way to do this?”

You don’t need a plan.

You just need curiosity.

Example:  

A resident in Jefferson once asked why a dangerous intersection had no stoplight.

That single question led to a petition, then a meeting, then a county review — and eventually, a safety redesign.

2. Find 2–3 People Who Care

You don’t need a committee.

You don’t need a nonprofit.

You don’t need a Facebook group.

You just need two other people who say, “Yeah, I care about this too.”

Example:  

A group of three neighbors in Fort Atkinson started the “Rock River Cleanup Crew.”

They began with one Saturday cleanup.

Now dozens of people join each year.

3. Gather What You Know (Even If It’s Not Much)

You don’t need to be an expert.

Just gather:

• a few facts

• a few concerns

• a few questions

This becomes your “starter packet.”

Example:  

A Whitewater resident concerned about pedestrian safety printed a one‑page sheet with:

• accident data

• photos of unsafe crossings

• a list of questions

That one page became the foundation for a city‑approved crosswalk project.

4. Share Your Findings Publicly

This can be as simple as:

• a Facebook post

• a one‑page PDF

• a short write‑up shared with neighbors

• a post on Proto Academy

The goal isn’t perfection — it’s visibility.

Example:  

A Jefferson County resident posted a simple map of local food pantries.

It was shared hundreds of times.

That visibility led to donations and volunteer support.

5. Talk to the People Already Involved

For solar farms, that might include:

• township board members

• county zoning staff

• landowners

• local farmers

• energy developers

• environmental groups

You don’t need to argue.

Just ask questions and listen.

Example:  

A group in Cambridge asked their township why a solar project lacked visual screening.

The developer agreed to add tree buffers after a single conversation.

6. Propose One Small, Achievable Action

Not a big plan.

Not a 20‑year vision.

Just one small step.

Examples for solar:

• “Can we add vegetative screening along County Road X?”

• “Can we create a community Q&A session with the developer?”

• “Can we map all solar projects in the county so residents understand the scale?”

• “Can we explore a pilot community-backed land lease for 5 acres?”

Small steps build momentum.

7. Celebrate Small Wins

Most initiatives succeed because someone said:

“We did something. Let’s keep going.”

Small wins build trust.

Trust builds teams.

Teams build projects.

These are the kinds of projects ordinary residents in small Wisconsin towns have started — often with no experience.

• Fort Atkinson Riverwalk Improvements

Started with a few residents asking for safer, cleaner river access.

Outcome: volunteer cleanups, city collaboration, and long-term improvements.

• Jefferson County Pollinator Pathways

Began with a resident planting native flowers and sharing photos.

Outcome: dozens of households joined, and local parks added pollinator gardens.

• Whitewater Community Market

Started as a Facebook conversation about local produce access.

Outcome: a weekly market that now supports dozens of small growers.

• Cambridge Solar Screening Agreement

Residents raised concerns about a solar project’s visibility.

Outcome: developer added tree buffers and pollinator habitat.

• Jefferson County Food Pantry Map

One person made a simple map.

Outcome: increased donations and volunteer turnout.

These examples show the pattern:

Small questions → small actions → real outcomes.