AB 174

This bill establishes new regulations for transmission facilities and large-scale energy projects in Wisconsin. It requires competitive bidding for transmission facility contracts exceeding $1 million when a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity is needed, mandating that contracts be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder with at least three bids required. The bill also imposes new requirements on the construction of large wind, solar, and battery storage systems, including requiring the purchase of agricultural conservation easements when these facilities are built on prime farmland, and mandates the installation of light-mitigating technology on certain wind turbines and transmission towers. Additionally, the legislation designates nuclear energy as a state policy priority and creates an audit process to review transmission facility contracts.