Senate Bill 559 aims to authorize the establishment of community solar programs in Wisconsin, allowing retail electric customers of investor-owned electric utilities to subscribe to community solar facilities and receive bill credits for the electricity generated. The bill defines "community solar facility" and "subscriber organization," and outlines the requirements for these facilities, including that they must be located within the same utility's service territory as the subscribers. Subscribers are limited in the amount of bill credits they can receive, ensuring it does not exceed their average annual electric bill, and they are prohibited from receiving state subsidies or benefits from tax incremental districts. The bill also mandates that the Public Service Commission (PSC) create rules for the establishment and operation of these facilities, including interconnection standards and financial responsibility for decommissioning.

Additionally, the bill imposes a cap on the total nominal capacity of community solar facilities at 1,750 megawatts, with the PSC responsible for apportioning this capacity among utilities based on their electric load. It requires municipalities to approve community solar facility locations through a two-thirds vote and subjects these facilities to local zoning ordinances. Furthermore, community solar facilities will now be subject to property taxation, a change from the previous exemption for electricity generators. The bill includes various definitions and stipulations to ensure the effective implementation of community solar programs while maintaining local governance and regulatory oversight.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 66.0401(1m)(intro.), 66.0401, 76.28(1)(e)(intro.), 76.28