High Noon Solar Energy LLC Receives Approval for Minor Siting Adjustment

High Noon Solar Energy LLC has submitted a request for a minor siting adjustment (MSA) for the High Noon Solar Project in Columbia County, Wisconsin. The MSA request was supplemented with additional information on July 15, 2025. After review, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has approved the proposed minor siting changes, which include the removal of approved array areas, minor alteration of array area boundaries, and siting adjustments to various components of the project. The Commission determined that the proposed modifications do not affect new landowners, nor do they affect resources not discussed in the environmental assessment.

Key Takeaways:

• The High Noon Solar Project is a solar electric generation facility located in the Towns of Leeds, Lowville, Arlington, and Hampden, Columbia County, Wisconsin.
• The proposed minor siting adjustments (MSA) include the removal of approved array areas, minor alteration of array area boundaries, and siting adjustments to inverters, collection lines, fences, access roads, project substation, generator transmission tie line, battery energy storage system, operation and maintenance area, and stormwater basin.
• The applicant stated that the proposed adjustments are a result of an optimized site design, resulting in a significant reduction in land cover impacts, with an approximately 1,127-acre reduction of land impacts compared to the project layout approved by the Commission.
• The proposed modifications do not affect new landowners who have not been given proper notice and hearing opportunity or affect landowners who were given proper notice and hearing opportunity in a significantly different manner than originally approved.
• The Commission staff reviewed the information provided and the updated map layout to confirm the changes would not impact resources or result in types of resource impacts not reviewed in the environmental assessment.
• The Commission determined that the proposed minor siting changes satisfy the criteria for the Commission to grant the MSA request.

The proposed minor siting adjustments were made to optimize the site design and result in a significant reduction in land cover impacts. The project layout includes the following proposed adjustments:

• Removal of approved array areas from the project layout
• Minor alteration of array area boundaries
• Siting adjustments to inverters, collection lines, fences, access roads, project substation, generator transmission tie line, battery energy storage system, operation and maintenance area, and stormwater basin

The Commission received the MSA filing on July 7, 2025, and supplemented with additional information on July 15, 2025.

Statistics:

• 1,127-acre reduction of land impacts compared to the project layout approved by the Commission
• 18 priority inverter foundations to be prioritized and expedited in review
• 1 generator step-up transformer foundation to be prioritized and expedited in review
• July 21, 2025, as the target date for prioritized and expedited review of 18 priority inverter foundations and 1 generator step-up transformer foundation

Sources:

• Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, Joint Application of Wisconsin Electric Power Company, Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, and Madison Gas and Electric Company for Approval to Acquire Ownership Interests in the High Noon Solar Electric Generation Facility and Battery Energy Storage System, Docket 9814-CE-100 (PSC REF#: 472433)
• Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, Joint Application of Wisconsin Electric Power Company, Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, and Madison Gas and Electric Company for Approval to Acquire Ownership Interests in the High Noon Solar Electric Generation Facility and Battery Energy Storage System, Docket 5-BS-276 (PSC REF#: 547780)