Wisconsin’s land trusts have something to be proud of. Over 40 organizations have protected more than 225,000 acres across our state—creating lasting conservation victories that benefit wildlife, communities, and future generations. These aren’t temporary fixes or short-term solutions. When land trusts protect land through conservation easements or direct ownership, they’re making a permanent commitment to preserving what makes Wisconsin special: our forests, prairies, farmlands, and natural heritage.
Confronting the Future
Renewable energy development is accelerating across Wisconsin. Land trusts now find themselves at an unexpected crossroads. Solar arrays, wind turbines, and other clean energy infrastructure are reshaping rural landscapes—sometimes in ways that complement conservation goals, and sometimes in ways that don’t.
Land trusts exist to secure lasting protection for ecological, scenic, agricultural, and cultural values. The fundamental mission hasn’t changed, and permanent land protection remains non-negotiable. Within that firm commitment lies a complex question: How can renewable energy development align with conservation objectives?
Right now, many Wisconsin land trusts are navigating this challenge without a roadmap and many questions might arise when a land trust is presented with a renewable energy proposal:
- How do we assess the true impact of installations on wildlife habitat?
- What does appropriate siting look like on conservation lands?
- How do we craft conservation easements that account for energy infrastructure?
- How do we effectively engage with planning authorities and developers?
Without a conservation-centered framework for evaluation, opportunities for meaningful alignment may get missed—or worse, the ability to perpetually protect land may inadvertently be weakened.
Introducing the Common Ground Project
That’s where the Common Ground Project comes in.
The Common Ground Project is an initiative led by Gathering Waters to develop a strategic framework designed specifically for Wisconsin land trusts. The goal is to provide tools that empower land trusts to evaluate renewable energy projects through a conservation-focused lens, prioritizing their mission and community values.
Rather than suggesting compromises, this framework will identify opportunities where renewable energy installations and broader policies can align with and enhance conservation goals, including:
- Generating revenue that supports ongoing conservation efforts
- Enhancing habitat through strategic land management practices
- Contributing to climate change mitigation efforts while preserving ecosystem integrity
- Aligning with the core values of local communities and conservation priorities
By fostering a thoughtful and informed approach, the Common Ground Project aims to positively shape the future overlap between renewable energy development and land conservation.
Built Through Collaboration
Gathering Waters is building the Common Ground framework through extensive engagement with the people who know this work best: conservation professionals, renewable energy experts, legal advisors, and the landowners who entrust their properties to land trusts.
With support from the Rural Climate Partnership and collaboration from technical experts across Wisconsin and beyond, this initiative will strengthen land trusts’ capacity to fulfill their primary conservation mission while providing clear guidance on if, when, and how renewable energy might fit into that picture.
The Path Forward
Wisconsin’s land trusts have spent decades building trust with landowners, communities, and conservation partners. That trust was earned through an unwavering commitment to permanent protection and careful stewardship of irreplaceable resources.
The Common Ground Project ensures that tradition will continue—giving land trusts the confidence and tools they need to engage in renewable energy discussions from a position of conservation strength, and with a vision for a collaborative future.
Have questions about the Common Ground Project? Want to share your land trust’s experience with renewable energy proposals? We’d love to hear from you. Send a note to chris@gatheringwaters.org.