Residents Voice Concerns Over Proposed Hub City Wind Farm

Residents packed a public meeting Thursday to voice concerns about the proposed Hub City Wind Farm, questioning how the project could affect farmland, property values and the rural character of Marathon County.

The meeting was hosted by Marathon County’s Alternative Energy Project Local Impact Advisory Committee and included representatives from Alliant Energy, who answered questions from residents. Company officials had not attended a similar meeting held the previous week.

Committee members explained that while they can recommend changes and negotiate agreements intended to address local concerns, Wisconsin law gives the Public Service Commission the final authority over large-scale energy projects exceeding 100 megawatts.

In a statement following the meeting, Hub City Wind Farm Project Manager Ben Tanko said the project is intended to improve the reliability and affordability of Wisconsin’s energy system while strengthening the electric grid and creating economic opportunities for rural communities.