top of page

Public Service Commission

The Public Service Commission (PSC) will review and determine whether the Columbia Wind Project is approved. The PSC also collects comments and facilitates public hearings to gather community input and concerns. If you're interested in reviewing the application process,  you can do so online.

 

The PSC website frequently requires you to prove you are not a robot (see image below) so unfortunately, providing a quick link to important pages is not an option. However, we will provide some instructions here to help get you started.​

SUBSCRIBE TO A CASE FILE

Anyone may follow the progress of a case by accessing the public documents filed for that case through the Electronic Records Filing System (ERF). Those interested can sign up to receive e-mail notifications whenever a document is filed in a particular case.​

​

Review Records & Sign Up For Email Alerts

​

Click on the link above and then go to #2 on the list. 

​​​​

​​

​

​

Fill in the information for the ERF-EZ subscriptions.

PSC records.png
Robot.jpg

INSTRUCTIONS

  • ​www.psc.wi.gov

  • Click on eServices

  • Choose Docket Search (CMS)

  • Enter Docket ID Part 1: 9836

  • Enter Docket ID Part 2: CE

  • Enter Docket ID Part 3: 100

  • Click Search

Explore Interactive
Map of proposed project​

​

  • Go to www.psc.wi.gov
     

  • Click on Commission Actions
     

  • Click on Highlighted Cases
     

  • Scroll down on the Highlighted Construction Cases and click on Columbia Wind Project
     

  • Scroll down - it will take the map a moment to download
     

  • If you click the magnifying glass on the upper right corner of the map, you can type your address and find your location within the proposed project
     

  • There's also a "ruler" that is 3 icons below the magnifying glass and you can discover how close you are to the proposed turbines

Thank you to everyone who submitted comments during the first PSC window. That phase is now closed, but the review process is far from over. Here are the next steps and how our community can stay involved in a grounded, factual way.

 

 

1. The Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) Is Next​

​

The PSC and DNR are now working on the Draft Environmental Assessment. When the Draft EA is released, there will be another public comment window. This is standard for every large energy project in Wisconsin.

 

This next window is where comments about:

  • wildlife

  • wetlands

  • hydrology

  • flooding

  • groundwater

  • seasonal patterns

…are especially important.

 

We will share the date as soon as the PSC posts it.

 

2. What You Can Do Right Now: Document What You See

 

Between now and the Draft EA, the most helpful thing residents can do is document local ecological activity.

 

Useful observations include:

  • eagle sightings (bald or golden)

  • cranes moving between wetlands (whooping, sandhills)

  • waterfowl activity near WPAs (Waterfowl Production Areas)

  • bat activity

  • seasonal flooding or standing water

  • wetland connections

  • any unusual wildlife patterns

     

Please note:

  • Dates matter

  • Times matter

  • Locations matter (nearest road or landmark is fine)

  • Photos or short videos are helpful but not required

     

This information becomes valuable during the Draft EA comment window.

 

3. Keep Your Notes Organized

A simple format works best:

​

Date

Time

Location

What you observed

Optional: photo/video

 

You don’t need to send anything yet — just keep it organized so it’s ready when the Draft EA opens.

 

4. We’ll Keep You Updated

​

As soon as the PSC posts new information — including the Draft EA and the next comment window — we’ll share it with the community.

 

Thank you for staying engaged, staying factual, and continuing to look out for the land and wildlife we all care about.

What People Should Submit to the PSC (Environmental Focus) Wildlife Observations
​

  • Eagles (bald or golden)

  • Sandhill cranes

  • Whooping cranes

  • Herons, egrets

  • Owls, hawks, kestrels

  • Migratory birds (geese, ducks, swans)

  • Bats (especially cave‑hibernating species: Little Brown, Northern Long‑Eared, Big Brown, Tri‑colored)

  • Turkeys, deer, foxes, coyotes, bobcats

  • Any nesting areas, rookeries, or repeated wildlife use

  • Times of day or seasons when wildlife is most active
     

Wetlands & Water Features

  • Wetlands (mapped or unmapped)

  • Seasonal or standing water

  • Swales, drainage paths, low spots that hold water

  • Streams, creeks, ditches with flowing water

  • Flooding patterns after rain or snowmelt

  • Areas that stay saturated or muddy for long periods
     

Hydrology & Floodplain Conditions

  • Where water moves across fields

  • Areas that flood every spring or after storms

  • Soil that stays soft, spongy, or unstable

  • Any connection to the Crawfish River corridor

  • Tile lines, drainage issues, or water pooling
     

Habitat & Ecological Features

  • Wildlife corridors (especially along the Crawfish River)

  • Tree lines, hedgerows, or wooded patches used by animals

  • Nesting sites, roosting areas, or bat foraging zones

  • Sensitive habitat areas or places wildlife consistently returns to
     

Agricultural & Land‑Use Conditions

  • Fields that cannot support heavy equipment when wet

  • Areas where soil compaction is already a problem

  • Places where access roads would cross wetlands or drainage paths
     

Seasonal Patterns

  • Spring flooding

  • Fall migration

  • Winter wildlife activity

  • Summer bat activity at dusk
     

Any Firsthand, On‑the‑Land Observations

  • What you see regularly

  • What you’ve seen for years

  • What shows up seasonally

  • Anything that contradicts the developer’s maps

bottom of page