Energy (Transmission)

This bill establishes priority rules for locating specific types of high-voltage electric transmission infrastructure, including mega transmission systems, consolidated utility corridors, and high-voltage direct current systems. It directs that these facilities be sited within existing high-voltage transmission line rights-of-way or along the corridors of interstate highways, U.S. numbered highways, state trunk highways, or railroad rights-of-way. The legislation defines a mega transmission system as a high-voltage line designed to operate at more than 400 kilovolts and renumbers an existing statute section to accommodate this new provision.

AB 901 establishes rules for net metering of rooftop solar energy systems in Wisconsin. It directly affects homeowners and businesses with solar installations by setting capacity limits (30 kW for residential, 500 kW for commercial) and requiring advanced metering for grid interconnection. The bill mandates that electric providers credit customers 100% of the retail electricity rate for excess power sent to the grid, with credits expiring March 31 annually and transferring to new property owners upon sale. It also allows providers to reduce credits to 90% if solar adoption exceeds 10% in their service area, while maintaining minimum billing standards for solar customers.

AB 493 authorizes community solar programs where multiple households share power generated from a single solar facility. It requires municipalities to approve new community solar projects with a two-thirds vote of their governing body (unless zoning allows it automatically), limits facility size to 5 megawatts (or 20 megawatts on previously developed sites like parking lots), and ensures no single subscriber controls more than 40% of the facility’s output. This directly affects local governments (through zoning rules), solar developers ("subscriber organizations"), and residents who join these programs. The bill defines key terms like "community solar facility" and "subscriber" to standardize program rules and interconnection with utilities.