SHAWANO COUNTY, WI – Plans for additional solar farm development in Shawano County remain on hold as officials cite major infrastructure challenges, particularly limited powerline capacity. County Board Chairman Tom Kautza says there currently are not transmission lines large enough to carry electricity from potential solar sites into the grid, making developers reluctant to move forward with new projects.
Kautza says the pause represents a missed financial opportunity for the county. He noted that leasing farmland for solar development could bring in significantly higher revenue, as much as $800 per acre, compared to roughly $150 per acre for traditional farmland rental.
The county has seen solar development succeed before. Kautza pointed to the existing solar project near Bonduel, which was later sold to WE Energies and continues generating incentive payments. However, without expanded transmission infrastructure and with ongoing work at Appleton-area substations, officials say additional projects are not currently feasible.
Kautza also explained that where solar farms are built affects how revenue is distributed. If located in a township, the county receives about $1,666 in annual payments while the town receives about $333. Additional renewable energy incentive payments of roughly $1,500 per megawatt would also be shared by both the county and the township.
Despite the current delay, Kautza says solar development could still provide significant long-term financial benefits, helping support county operations and strengthen local township budgets if infrastructure improvements are made in the future.
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