“These large-scale wind and solar projects do not happen without trillions of dollars of U.S. taxpayer funds and foreign capital,” Mr. Machtan said. “The U.S. government, foreign governments, and private equity also cannot build large-scale wind and solar without externalizing enormous health, safety, environmental, and decommissioning costs onto residents, towns, and counties.” With the help of Farmland First’s advocacy, 16 towns in central Wisconsin passed health and safety ordinances in the spring of 2023 that set ground rules for companies seeking to build wind turbines up to 600 feet tall and as close as 1,250 feet from their homes.