Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB7

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/25
• Refer: 2/6/25
• Failed: 3/23/26

Caption

An Act to amend 66.0401 (1m) (intro.); to create 66.0401 (1r), 66.0401 (4) (h), 196.49 (4m) and 196.491 (3) (d) 9. of the statutes; Relating to: requiring local approval for certain wind and solar projects before Public Service Commission approval.

Summary

AB7 would change Wisconsin’s approval process for certain large renewable energy projects by requiring local government approval before the Public Service Commission (PSC) can issue the state certificates needed to build them. The bill defines “solar project” and “wind project” as facilities designed to operate at 15 megawatts or more, and it applies to projects seeking a certificate of authority or a certificate of public convenience and necessity. Before PSC approval, the project developer would have to seek approval from each city, village, and town where the project would be located. Under the bill, each affected municipality would have 90 days to approve or deny the project by resolution, with limited extensions allowed for additional information, material changes, or other written good cause. If a municipality does not act in time, the project is deemed approved. The bill also states that existing statutory limits on local regulation of wind and solar systems would not apply to these approval decisions, and it exempts wind-project approvals under the new process from certain current wind-energy application procedures.

Impact

AB7 would add a local consent requirement to Wisconsin’s existing state-level permitting framework for large wind and solar projects. It would amend the statutes governing local authority over energy systems and PSC certification, effectively giving municipalities a veto or approval role over qualifying projects before state approval can be granted. This would affect project developers, utilities, local governments, and the PSC by making local resolutions a prerequisite to state authorization for large renewable energy facilities.

Sentiment

The available record shows no committee transcript or vote history, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge detailed sentiment. Based on the bill’s structure, it appears to have been aimed at increasing local control over utility-scale wind and solar development, which typically appeals to local governments and opponents of large renewable projects, while likely drawing concern from renewable energy developers, utilities, and supporters of streamlined state permitting. The bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

Contention

The main point of contention is the shift in decision-making authority from the PSC to local municipalities. Supporters would likely view the bill as restoring local control and ensuring that affected communities can approve or reject large energy projects, while opponents would likely argue that it creates a de facto local veto, adds delay and uncertainty, and could hinder renewable energy development. Another likely issue is the bill’s override of existing limits on local regulation of solar and wind systems, which could be seen either as a necessary exception for major projects or as a significant departure from current statewide siting policy.