Letter: Community solar is a free-market win for Wisconsin

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To the Editor-

I am a proud member of Associated Builders and Contractors here in Wisconsin, I believe strongly in two things: the power of free markets and the dignity of hard work. That’s why I’m proud to support the community solar legislation introduced by Senator Patrick Testin and Representative Scott Krug.

At its core, this legislation is about choice. Right now, Wisconsinites have little say in where their electricity comes from. Utility monopolies call the shots, and families are left footing increasingly higher energy bills. By opening the door to community solar, we give people the ability to choose locally generated power and they don’t require government subsidies or handouts. When consumers have more options, competition increases, prices go down, and innovation thrives. That’s the free market at work.

Importantly, as a business owner and ABC member, community solar also means jobs; good jobs that keep my employees working here in Wisconsin instead of traveling out of state. These projects require skilled construction crews and technical expertise, and they give our members a chance to expand their know-how in a rapidly growing field. Just over the border, Illinois does have a community solar program and we are losing too many of our guys to those jobs. Let’s not only keep jobs here in Wisconsin — let’s develop the technical expertise here for the future.

This legislation respects rural communities and family farmers. Unlike massive, utility-scale solar farms that swallow up hundreds or even thousands of acres, community solar projects are small, targeted, and locally controlled. They can fit on underused corners of farmland, generate steady income for property owners, and still leave the land available for agricultural use. In fact, many farms across the country have found that animals like sheep can graze freely on the grass growing beneath solar panels. It’s a win-win: families keep their land, farms stay productive, and communities gain access to affordable, clean energy.

This isn’t about left versus right, or big government versus small government. It’s about unleashing the power of competition, strengthening local economies, and giving communities more control over their energy future. Community solar is a common-sense solution that lowers costs, supports jobs, and keeps decision-making close to home.

I urge my fellow Wisconsinites — and especially lawmakers in Madison — to look past the old utility monopolies and see this for what it is: a chance to put free-market principles into action, empower rural communities, and make Wisconsin stronger.

Jeff Disher
Owner, of Disher Electric, Inc., Stevens Point
Member, Wisconsin chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors.