(MADISON) Parts of central Wisconsin could see more wind turbines on the landscape in the coming years.
Alliant Energy has filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin seeking approval to build a 277-megawatt wind farm in Columbia County. The project, known as Columbia Wind, would include more than 40 turbines spread across privately owned land if regulators sign off on the plan.
The utility says the project is intended to add new generation capacity and support grid reliability for customers in the region. According to the filing, the wind farm has been in development for nearly five years and involves lease agreements with more than 300 landowners in Columbia County.
If approved, construction is expected to create an estimated 100 to 150 jobs. The company also estimates the project would generate more than $100 million in tax revenue for the county over its lifetime, though those figures depend on final approvals and project details.
Once operational, the wind farm is expected to produce enough electricity each year to power roughly 100,000 Wisconsin homes, based on average usage. The project would add to Alliant Energy’s existing wind portfolio in Wisconsin and neighboring states.
State regulators are expected to issue a decision on the proposal in early 2027. If the project is approved, Alliant Energy plans to have the wind farm operating by the end of 2028.
