Wisconsin Wind Farm to Power 100K Homes, Save $463M

Wisconsin families could see major savings on their energy bills thanks to a massive new wind farm coming to Columbia County by 2028.

Alliant Energy plans to build the Columbia Wind project, a 277-megawatt wind farm featuring more than 40 next-generation turbines spread across rural land. The $730 million project has been five years in the making, with over 300 landowners signing lease agreements to host the towers on their property.

The numbers tell an exciting story. The wind farm will power roughly 100,000 homes annually without the volatile fuel costs that drive up traditional energy bills. Alliant estimates customers will save $463 million over the next 35 years because wind energy is essentially free once the turbines are spinning.

Project manager Justin Foss says today's wind turbines are game changers. These taller, larger machines can capture more wind energy, meaning the farm needs far fewer turbines than a similar project would have required a decade ago. Instead of a dense forest of towers, residents will see them spread naturally across the landscape.

The Ripple Effect

Columbia County stands to gain more than clean energy from this project. The wind farm will generate over $100 million in tax revenue for local schools, roads, and services over its lifetime.

Rural landowners participating in the project will receive steady lease payments, helping farm families diversify their income during uncertain agricultural times. Construction will create 100 to 150 union jobs, bringing good-paying work to the region.

Amy Barrilleaux from Clean Wisconsin points out that wind and solar are now the two cheapest ways to produce energy in the state. "You're not paying to truck in coal or to pipe in liquefied natural gas," she explains. "You pretty much have a free energy source there turning those turbines."

The utility has held community presentations to address resident concerns about the towers, acknowledging that big changes naturally bring uncertainty. Alliant filed its application with the Public Service Commission in December and expects approval early next year.

If everything stays on track, the Columbia Wind project will start delivering clean, affordable power to Wisconsin homes by the end of 2028, proving that going green can also mean saving green.