[Your Address]

[Senator/Representative's Address]

I am writing to express my strong support for Senate Bill 1075, which is critical to addressing the safety, environmental, and health concerns associated with the commercial solar development industry in Wisconsin. I also urge you to consider the broader implications of industrial solar projects, as highlighted by recent opposition to the Whitewater Solar Project in Jefferson and Walworth Counties. This project, spanning over 2,000 acres of prime agricultural land, underscores the urgent need for legislation that prioritizes the protection of our farmland, rural landscapes, property values, and wildlife habitats. The potential risks posed by the Whitewater Solar Project, such as groundwater contamination, electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure, battery storage hazards, and environmental disruption, are significant. Senate Bill 1075 provides the necessary framework to mitigate these risks and ensure that solar projects are developed responsibly.

However, the concerns extend beyond just the above mentioned environmental impacts:

1. Inefficient Use of Farmland: Industrial solar farms are an inefficient use of valuable agricultural land that should be preserved for food production and sustainable practices. We should prioritize smarter energy solutions that do not compromise our farmland.

2. Destruction of Rural Landscapes: The charm and beauty of our rural communities are being erased by the construction of large-scale solar projects. We must preserve these landscapes for future generations.

3. Lowered Property Values: Industrial solar projects have been shown to decrease property values in surrounding areas, impacting homeowners, farmers, and landowners who deserve to protect their investments.

4. Wildlife Habitat Disruption: Farmland is crucial for supporting diverse ecosystems. The intrusion of industrial solar projects disrupts these habitats, endangering wildlife and destabilizing local ecosystems.

Moreover, the current system of federal tax credits for industrial solar projects exacerbates these issues by:

• Enriching Foreign Manufacturers: Most solar panels are manufactured in China, and these tax credits inadvertently support their economy at the expense of American taxpayers.

• Exploiting American Taxpayers: The financial burden of these tax credits falls on American taxpayers, subsidizing the profits of solar developers rather than benefiting our local communities and economy.

I urge you to support Senate Bill 1075 and advocate for its passage in the Wisconsin State Assembly. This bill represents a balanced approach that recognizes the importance of renewable energy while addressing the critical safety, environmental, and health implications associated with its development.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I am available to discuss this further if you have any questions or need additional information.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]

I am writing to urge you to support our local landowners and the community in opposing the installation of utility-scale solar projects in our township. We must carefully consider the negative impact that these large-scale solar developments have on our community.

As you may know, once solar projects surpass this 100 MW threshold, they escape the oversight of local officials like yourselves, leaving our community vulnerable to decisions made without local input. Despite these state-level regulations, it is essential that our township officials remain engaged in protecting our residents from the potential detriments of utility-scale solar developments, including:

●      Damage to Farmland and Drain Tiles: These projects often require extensive excavation and construction, damaging critical drain tiles and wetlands that are vital to maintaining the health of our farmland. Once disrupted, these systems can be difficult—and expensive—to repair, leading to long-term impacts on the productivity of our local agricultural resources.

●      Inefficient Use of Farmland: Prime agricultural land, which should be used for food production and sustainable farming, is being diverted to industrial solar farms. This is not only a misuse of these valuable resources but also undermines our local economy, which is heavily reliant on agriculture. Furthermore, the development of utility-scale solar power is extremely inefficient compared to traditional energy sources like coal, natural gas, and nuclear. While solar energy may seem attractive, it requires vast amounts of land to produce a fraction of the energy generated by more efficient, reliable power sources. To put this into perspective, while we are sacrificing farmland for less productive solar projects, China is currently building new coal-fired power plants at a rate equivalent to one large plant every week. This highlights the inefficiency of utility-scale solar projects and raises serious concerns about global energy competition.

●      Risks to Power Costs and Reliability: Utility-scale solar projects can create instability in local power grids, driving up costs for consumers while failing to provide reliable energy during periods of low sunlight or high demand.

●      Environmental and Wildlife Disruption: Large-scale solar developments can harm local wildlife habitats, destabilizing ecosystems and endangering species that rely on rural and agricultural areas for survival.

●      Harm to Property Values: Industrial solar projects often lead to a decline in property values for surrounding homes and farms, putting undue financial strain on local landowners who are simply trying to protect their investments.

●      Exploitation of Local Farmers & Landowners: Our  community landowners are encouraged to sign one-sided contracts with these international power companies that are known for selling their projects off to utility firms after installation, bearing no responsibility once the dark consequences start to arise from these types of developments. These companies, which have no vested interest in our local community, are simply looking to profit from the latest subsidy gold rush tied to utility-scale solar power. Local farmers are being pushed into arrangements that may not be in their long-term best interests.. As a township, we should be supporting our local farms and encouraging decisions about land use that sustain our community for generations to come, rather than allowing short-term financial incentives to dictate the future of our most precious and irreplaceable assets - our land.

This is more than just an environmental issue—it's a strategic one. The rapid expansion of utility-scale solar projects is a national security issue, and ultimately a clandestine war on American farmland. As a community, we should not participate in undermining our own agricultural and economic strength.

The charm and rural nature of our township are assets we should fight to preserve. While the state may offer incentives for these projects, the real cost is borne by our community in terms of environmental degradation, economic hardship, and loss of local control.

We ask that you stand with local landowners and community members to oppose these projects and explore more sustainable and community-friendly alternatives. Your leadership can make a critical difference in protecting the future of our township, even in the face of state-level regulations that limit local authority.

Thank you for your attention to this pressing issue. I am more than happy to discuss this matter further if you require additional information or have any questions.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]