The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue a permit for the incidental taking of a rare lizard, which may result from the Columbia Energy Storage Project in Columbia County.
Incidental take refers to the unintentional loss of individual endangered or threatened animals or plants that does not put the species’ overall population at risk.
Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL), Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, and Madison Gas and Electric Company are jointly proposing to construct, own, and operate a 20 MW/200MWh carbon dioxide-based energy storage system, known as the Columbia Energy Storage System (the Project), within the existing Columbia Energy Center property owned by (WPL). The Project is a Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) system utilizing carbon dioxide energy storage technology in a closed-loop system. The Project will be comprised of two major structures: a large gas holder with a “dome” shape to store carbon dioxide in gaseous form and a “Power Island” housing turbomachinery, heat exchangers, and auxiliary systems and equipment. The Project will also include three emergency generators and a 0.5 mile 13.8kV Gen-Tie line.
The presence of the state endangered slender glass lizard is confirmed in the vicinity of the project site. DNR staff determined that the proposed project may result in the incidental taking of some lizard.
Conservation measures to minimize the adverse effect on the species will be incorporated into the proposed Incidental Take Permit and are detailed in the Jeopardy Assessment. They include herp exclusion fencing to keep lizards from entering the project area and removing and relocating lizards that are found in the project area by a permitted biological monitor.
The DNR concludes that the proposed project is not likely to appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival or recovery of the species within the state, the whole plant-animal community of which it is a part of or the habitat that is critical to its existence.
Copies of the Jeopardy Assessment and background information on the slender glass lizard are available by visiting the DNR Incidental Take Public Notices webpage or upon request from DNR Conservation Biologist Stacy Rowe at 608-228-9796 or Stacy.Rowe@wisconsin.gov.
The public is encouraged to submit written comments regarding project-related impacts to the slender glass lizard by May 7, 2026 to:
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
c/o Stacy Rowe, DNR Conservation Biologist
2514 Morse St. Janesville, WI 53545
Stacy.Rowe@wisconsin.gov or 608-228-9796
