Spooner City Council Approves Permit for Solar Energy Project

The Spooner City Council voted to approve a conditional use permit for a new solar energy production project at their meeting last week.

The approval of the conditional-use permit will clear the way for the construction of a 2.25 megawatt solar energy project with bifacial panels and a wildlife-friendly fence around the property. OneEnergy Renewables proposed the project, dubbed Spooner Solar, on about 11 acres of land near the intersection of Highway 53 and County Highway H.

The solar farm will provide clean, renewable energy for Barron Electric Cooperative customers in the area, and officials expect it to effectively serve the region for at least 30 years. OneEnergy Renewables officials say they will use the land for other purposes as well, including educational opportunities for area students.

While the conditional-use permit received unanimous approval, some council members expressed concerns about the use of the land. According to a Spooner Advocate report, while most agreed that the expansion of solar energy production is good for the city, some believe is not the best use of the property itself. Mayor Gary Cuskey also said he wanted to see the land developed commercially.

Expanding solar energy production has become increasingly common across the Northwest Wisconsin region. Earlier this year, solar projects in Barron, Ashland, Dunn, and Pierce Counties received grant funding through the Rural Energy for America Program. Most of the projects have been widely celebrated by residents but some, like a 5,000 acre solar farm in St. Croix County, have seen strong local opposition.