A large proposed solar project in Wisconsin called Vista Sands would offset more than 1.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution in its first year of operations, equal to the emissions of more than 353,000 vehicles.
That’s according to a recent report commissioned by Pennsylvania-based developer Doral Renewables and submitted to the state Public Service Commission as part of the project application.
The proposed project includes 1.3 gigawatts of solar and 300 megawatts of battery energy storage in Portage County. If approved, the project would be the largest of its kind in the state, according to the report, putting out enough clean energy to power about 200,000 average Wisconsin homes.
Along with the CO2 impact, the project would also avoid 1,129 metric tons of particulate matter being released while averting 3,260 metric tons of “soil acidification” emissions and resulting in a significant decrease in other air, land and water pollution.
Meanwhile, report author Quantum Energy projects the Vista Sands Solar project would have public health benefits, equivalent to about 1,000 people getting an extra 2.5 years of healthy life due to lower exposure to environmental pollution.
Because the project would feed into the regional grid operator MISO, authors note it would help reduce emissions throughout its footprint. These impacts are linked to projected reductions in natural gas and coal generation, according to the report.
“Those emissions reductions, the majority of which are upwind of densely populated areas, reduce the amount of particulates and other pollutants that are in the air and end up in millions of people’s lungs,” report authors wrote.
Jon Baker, project manager for the solar site and vice president of development for Doral Renewables, says the project “will mark a significant and immediate step toward” addressing the impacts of climate change in Wisconsin and nationwide.
“The combined public health and ecosystem benefits are projected to produce approximately $630 million in economic gains in the first year, primarily attributed to the reduction in healthcare costs and ecosystem preservation services,” Baker said in a statement on the report findings.
Project partners are also touting an economic impact report from Strategic Economic Research showing the project would add about 500 jobs during construction and 50 permanent jobs. Related capital investments would exceed $1 billion in the first year, and the project would have about $6.5 million in annual utility aid to county and municipal governments.
See the report.
