Interest in creating wind farms in southwest Wisconsin appears to be growing as developers submit proposals to government agencies or sign land-use agreements with area residents. Grant County land records indicate that several dozen properties around Patch Grove, Bloomington and Mount Hope have signed easements for wind energy projects with Hidden Valley Energy Project LLC since 2023, while properties in Cassville and Beetown townships have signed easements with Heartland Wind LLC. Neither company has submitted documents yet to Public Service Commission of Wisconsin or the Federal Aviation Administration, which determines whether proposed projects are hazards to air navigation. Meanwhile, other developers are proceeding with pre-construction plans for projects, including Pattern Energy’s Uplands project, consisting of two wind projects slated for construction in 2025 in Lafayette and Iowa counties, and Invenergy’s Badger Hollow slated for construction in 2025 in the Livingston area. Grant County Board Chairman Robert Keeney said some companies have been communicative about their plans, while others have not engaged with county officials. Keeney said the county does not have much control over the projects but is eager to work with both developers and residents who have expressed concerns.
