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Solar permitting — Kenosha County, Wisconsin

FIPS 55059

On file: public meetings, local news, known opposition groups.

C
Kenosha County, WI
Risk score 50/100 · Full scorecard →
Compliance: ModerateSolar ordinance on fileTrajectory: StableSaturation: Moderate

SE WI; Chicago suburb (Kenosha); dense suburban; limited utility-scale land; commercial primary; local CUP. Permitting: Kenosha County: CUP in Agricultural/Industrial district for projects <100 MW. Track record: Paris Solar Energy…

Permitting process

Local permitting pathway

Kenosha County: CUP in Agricultural/Industrial district for projects <100 MW.

Setbacks & buffers

Kenosha County Ordinance 16 (2022, Nov 1): Solar farm conditional use permitted in A-1, A-2, A-4, I-1 (agricultural/institutional) districts for <100 MW under §12.40.080(b)(138). Specific setback distances not codified in ordinance; setbacks governed by standard A-district requirements. Utility-scale ≥100 MW regulated by WI PSC CPCN and exempt from local zoning under Wis. Stat. §66.0401. Source: kenoshacountywi.gov/DocumentCenter/View/16146/O6-Zoning-Solar-Energy-Systems

Spacing requirements

None codified.

Size restrictions

None codified; managed via CUP/SUP conditions

Penalties & bonding

No penalties or adjustments. Standard CUP/SUP process.

State-level permits & approvals

PSC of Wisconsin has siting authority for wind/solar ≥100 MW (Wis. Stat. §196.491). Projects <100 MW: local CUP/SUP under county/town zoning governs. Local restrictions on wind systems must meet one of 3 conditions: (1) public health/safety; (2) not significantly increase cost/decrease efficiency; (3) allows comparable alternative. Local solar restrictions face similar reasonableness standard. No statewide preemption below 100 MW threshold — strong local control. MISO interconnection territory statewide.

Full permitting requirements

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State policy & grid context

State RPS & clean energy policy

10% by 2015 (met, no update) | Act 141 (2005) | Wis. Stat. §196.378

State incentive programs

Wisconsin RPS: 10% renewable by 2015 (met — weakest in region). Focus on Energy program: commercial/industrial rebates for solar ($150-450/kW for ≤25 kW). Property tax exemption: Wis. Stat. §70.111(18) — solar systems exempt from property tax assessment. Sales tax exemption: Wis. Stat. §77.54(57m) — solar equipment purchases exempt. Wisconsin Green Energy program: voluntary renewable program through WPS, MGE, We Energies. Alliant WPL (WI) has deployed ~1,089 MW solar by 2024; Vista Sands (1,315 MW Portage Co.) approved June 2025 — largest WI solar project. Utility: We Energies (WEC) serves SE WI/Milwaukee; WPS (WEC) serves NE WI; Alliant Energy (WPL) serves central/southern WI; MGE serves Madison metro; Xcel NSPW serves far NW WI; Dairyland Power Coop and WPPI Energy serve rural areas.

Grid & interconnection

MISO / We Energies (WE) zone

Full state policy & grid detail

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Battery storage (BESS) P1 State-Default Permitting

No standalone county BESS ordinance confirmed.

BESS ordinances & bylaws

Tracked storage projects

County-level battery-storage status, safety requirements, and projects — each linked to a primary source.

Community opposition P1

Organized opposition signals on record for this county — petitions, community groups, and oppositional coverage — each linked to its primary source.

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Energy-related meetings & dockets P1

bess · solar

Halo color matches the energy category tagged on each meeting.

  • 2026-06-16 County Board
    BESS

    From the Planning, Development & Extension Education Committee - An Ordinance Supporting a Temporary Moratorium on the Consideration and/or Issuance of Building Permits, Conditional Use Permits and Zoning Approvals for Battery Energy Storag

  • 2026-06-10 Other
    BESS

    Review And Possible Approval - Resolution Supporting Temporary Moratorium On the Consideration and/or Issuance of Building Permits, Conditional Use Permits and Zoning Approvals for Battery Energy Storage Systems Pending Enactment of an Amen

  • 2026-06-10 Other
    BESS

    Review And Possible Approval - Resolution Supporting Temporary Moratorium On the Consideration and/or Issuance of Building Permits, Conditional Use Permits and Zoning Approvals for Battery Energy Storage Systems Pending Enactment of an Amen

  • 2026-05-19 County Board
    BESS

    Communication from Andy Buehler - A Resolution Supporting Temporary Moratorium on the Consideration and/or Issuance of Building Permits, Conditional Use Permits and Zoning Approvals for Battery Energy Storage Systems Pending Enactment of an

  • 2026-05-19 Other
    BESS

    Communication from Andy Buehler - A Resolution Supporting Temporary Moratorium on the Consideration and/or Issuance of Building Permits, Conditional Use Permits and Zoning Approvals for Battery Energy Storage Systems Pending Enactment of an

  • 2026-04-21 County Board
    Solar

    The Highway Commissioner is authorized to accept and expend $138,432 from the Paris Solar Farm Project for future KC Roadway Improvements.

  • 2026-04-16 Other
    Solar

    The Highway Commissioner is authorized to accept and expend $138,432 for future KC Roadway Improvements from the Paris Solar Farm Project developer.

  • 2026-03-23 Other
    Solar

    The Highway Commissioner was authorized to accept funds from WI Electric Power and Paris Solar Energy Center for roadway improvements.

  • 2026-03-23 Other
    Solar

    The Highway Commissioner was authorized to accept funds from the Paris Solar Farm Project.

  • 2026-03-17 County Board
    Solar

    The Highway Commissioner is authorized to accept and expend $138,432 from the Paris Solar Farm Project developer for future KC Roadway Improvements.

  • 2026-03-17 Other
    BESS

    Discussion of a proposed battery energy storage facility in Pleasant Prairie

  • 2026-01-26 Other
    Solar

    Kenosha County crews performed routine maintenance on county highways.

More energy-related meetings

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State PSC dockets P1

No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.

Local news P3

More news items

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Data sources: public agendas/minutes from local government sites; PSC dockets from state regulators; news from GDELT and curated RSS. Last refreshed 2026-10-08. See the county risk scorecard or the full Wisconsin permitting index.