The Vista Sands Solar Farm is a transformational solar development taking place near the towns of Plover and Grant in Portage County, Wisconsin, and is considered to be the largest private solar development in the state. Once operational, this project will generate a 1.2-gigawatt (GW) of reliable, affordable electricity.
For generations, local farmers have cultivated their land and harnessed the power of the sun to produce potatoes and vegetables. Respecting that heritage, a group of local farmers has agreed to lease us their land. For the next generation, we’ll use the land to harvest the power of the sun to produce clean electricity – all while helping stimulate and grow the local economy.
At the end of the lease, the solar panels are removed, and the land is still owned by the local families. The next generations can decide the best future use for their land, and enjoy a land that has rested for 30 years, and is now optimized for production.
Vista Sands Solar will generate enough electricity to power over 200,000 Wisconsin homes, while providing economic development opportunities in central Wisconsin. This project will bring a total capital investment of nearly $2 billion and create approximately 500 jobs during construction and about 50 permanent jobs, stimulating local economic activity that will benefit local businesses. The project also brings support to local communities through utility aid payments that are estimated to exceed $6 million annually to Portage County and the municipalities hosting the project.
In addition to the economic benefits, an impact report released during 2024 detailed the expected local and regional annual environmental, health and economic benefits of the Vista Sands Solar project. According to the report, in its first year of operation, the project would avoid over 1.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide released into the air; over 3,200 metric tons of soil acidification; and a significant decrease in other air, land, and water pollutants. The reductions in global and local pollutants are projected to produce approximately $630 million in additional economic gains in the first year alone – attributed to the reduction in healthcare costs and ecosystem preservation services. The full report is available here.
The Vista Sands Solar project was approved by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission on December 12, 2024, and is expected to begin construction in 2026.
