Portage County hosts community chats about solar development

Source: https://www.wsaw.com

PLOVER, Wis. (WSAW) - Representatives from UW Madison-Extension met with community members of Plover at the Boston School Forest to talk about large scale solar developments in the area. The university is teaching more communities about solar projects and listening to their concerns.

Portage County now has a solar project approved and is the first county to give feedback. Sustainable design specialist and energy program manager Sherrie Gruder is with UW Madison Extension and is gaining input from all kinds of people.

"We feel that they should be centered in the middle of the large scale solar siting situation. And oftentimes they aren't part of the conversation and we want them to feel heard," she says.

21 Wisconsin counties so far have a solar development as the country moves toward cleaner energy. The university will also be holding more meetings in different areas in the future. Including another one Thursday night in Stevens Point at the Portage County Annex Building.