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Wisconsin

Solar permitting — Kenosha County, Wisconsin

FIPS 55059

344 indexed meetings (35 energy-related), 4 news items, 4 known opposition groups.

Kenosha County, WI

Compliance: ModerateSolar ordinance on fileTrajectory: StableSaturation: Very High

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.

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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

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Full state policy & grid detail

Full records for this county are part of a SitePath subscription.

Battery storage (BESS) P1 State-Default Permitting

No standalone county BESS ordinance confirmed.

Local BESS ordinances & bylaws

No county BESS ordinance on file; link points to the county zoning code. Governing body: Kenosha County, Wisconsin (county-level zoning administered b

Tracked storage projects

200 MW BESS project200 MW · approved
110 MW BESS project110 MW · approved

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

Community opposition P1 4 tracked

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

Kenosha County BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Storage2026-06-13 · kenoshacountywi.gov
Kenosha County moves to regulate power storage developments Storage2026-06-13 · kenoshanews.com
Kenosha County votes to pause battery storage facility, but the project may still move forward Storage2026-06-13 · tmj4.com
Community opposition to Kenosha Microsoft Data Center data center Data center2026-03-16 · facebook.com · social · may require login

SitePath maintains the most complete community-opposition dataset available, refreshed continuously from primary sources.

Subscriber intel Subscribers

Researched for this county and available with a subscription:

🔒Project track record
🔒Developer intelligence
🔒Community & board sentiment
🔒Governing board

Energy-related meetings & dockets P1

27 energy-related344 total in calendar18 bess · 8 solar · 1 wind

Halo color = sentiment of the relevant agenda excerpt: green positive, yellow neutral, red negative.

2026-07-07 Other
BESS
Kenosha County Planning Committee voted to adopt an ordinance supporting a temporary moratorium on battery energy storage systems.
agenda
2026-07-07 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
agenda
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
agenda

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
agenda
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.
agenda
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.
agenda
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.
agenda
2026-03-23 Other
Solar
The Highway Commissioner was authorized to accept funds from the Paris Solar Farm Project.
agenda
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.
agenda
2026-03-17 Other
BESS
Discussion of a proposed battery energy storage facility in Pleasant Prairie
agenda
2026-01-26 Other
Solar
Kenosha County crews performed routine maintenance on county highways.
agenda
Other
BESS
Ordinance to amend zoning ordinance regarding Battery Energy Storage Systems was removed from the table.
agenda
County Board
BESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
agenda
County Board
BESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
agenda
County Board
BESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
agenda
County Board
BESS
The Kenosha County Planning Commission voted to deny a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm.
agenda
County Board
BESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
agenda
County Board
BESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
agenda
County Board
BESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
agenda
County Board
BESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
agenda
County Board
BESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
agenda
County Board
BESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
agenda
County Board
BESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
agenda
County Board
BESS
Kenosha County Planning Committee passed an ordinance imposing a temporary moratorium on battery energy storage system permits until a zoning ordinance is enacted.
agenda
County Board
Wind
Kenosha County discussed potential benefits and requirements of a wind energy industry
agenda
County Board
Solar
A solar farm in the Town of Wheatland was approved following a new ordinance.
agenda
County Board
Solar
Kenosha County supervisors voted unanimously to adopt a resolution requesting Wisconsin revise its solar energy system law.
agenda

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24 more energy-related meetings

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State PSC dockets P1

No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.

Sentiment rollup P2

No sentiment rollup yet (requires meeting transcripts to be processed).

Local news P3

2026-08-06 Ai Data Center Backlash Protests Florida Bipartisantheverge.com
2026-08-04 Why Madison Suburb Of Deforest Shot Down 12 Billion Data Center Projecturbanmilwaukee.com
2026-06-05 Wisconsin Power Plant Could Benefit From Trumps 425 Million Coal Pushwrco.com

2026-06-01 Opportunity Wisconsin New Report Wisconsin Energy And Gas Prices Soar Thanks To Reps Steil And Van Ordens Votes In Congresswispolitics.com

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1 more news item

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Data sources: public agendas/minutes from local government sites; PSC dockets from state regulators; news from GDELT and curated RSS; sentiment derived from public meeting transcripts. Last refreshed 2026-08-27. See the county risk scorecard or the full Wisconsin permitting index.