Why Public Comments Matter

Public comments help agencies understand how a proposed project may affect real people, real places, and real communities.

Technical reports can describe emissions, permits, maps, routes, models, and project specifications.

But residents often understand things that may not show up clearly in those documents.

You may know:

• How nearby roads flood after heavy rain

• Where children walk, bike, or wait for the bus

• How sound travels across open fields

• Whether nearby wells, wetlands, streams, or drainage areas are vulnerable

• How the land is currently used

• How a project may affect families, farms, wildlife, schools, or daily life

• Whether the community is already carrying environmental, industrial, or infrastructure burdens

A strong comment does not have to be long. It should be honest, specific, respectful, and clear.

The Process at a Glance

Before You Submit a Comment

Before writing your comment, try to gather the basic information for the project.

Look for:

• The project name

• The PSC docket number

• The comment deadline

• The project location

• The applicant or company name

• The type of project being proposed

• Any public hearing dates

• Any environmental review documents or notices

The docket number is especially important. It helps make sure your comment is added to the correct case record.

What to Include in Your Comment

Your comment can be simple. The most important thing is to be specific about what concerns you and what you want the PSC to consider.

You may want to include:

1. Who You Are

Briefly explain your connection to the project or place.

Examples:

“I live near the proposed project area.”

“My children attend school nearby.”

“I own farmland in the area.”

“I rely on a private well.”

“I am concerned about impacts to water, farmland, wildlife, public health, and nearby families.”

2. What You Are Concerned About

You can speak from your own experience, knowledge, or values.

Concerns may include:

• Air quality

• Noise

• Water use

• Groundwater and wells

• Stormwater and runoff

• Wetlands, streams, or wildlife habitat

• Farmland and rural character

• Nearby homes, schools, farms, or businesses

• Public health

• Emergency response

• Traffic and road impacts

• Property values

• Cumulative impacts from multiple projects

• Whether the project is necessary or appropriate for the location

3. What You Want the PSC to Do

Be clear about what you are asking for.

You may ask the PSC to:

• Deny the project

• Pause the decision

• Require additional environmental review

• Require stronger protections

• Consider cumulative impacts

• Hold another public hearing

• Require more complete information from the applicant

• Consider safer or less harmful alternatives

4. Local Knowledge

Local knowledge can be very valuable.

If you know something specific about the land, roads, water, wildlife, drainage, schools, nearby homes, or daily life in the area, include it.

You do not need to prove every concern with a technical report. Public comments can include lived experience, questions, observations, and concerns that you believe deserve attention.

Simple Public Comment Template

You can copy, paste, and personalize this template.

Re: Docket [Insert Docket Number] — [Project Name]

Dear Public Service Commission of Wisconsin,

My name is [your name], and I am writing to submit a public comment regarding [project name], Docket [insert docket number].

I am concerned about this project because [explain your concern in your own words].

I ask the Commission to carefully consider how this project could affect [nearby residents / children / schools / farms / wells / wetlands / wildlife / public health / roads / air quality / water / the surrounding community].

I am especially concerned about [add one to three specific issues].

Before any approval is granted, I believe the PSC should [deny the project / require additional review / require stronger protections / consider cumulative impacts / require more information / hold the applicant accountable for long-term impacts].

Thank you for considering my comment.

Sincerely,
[your name]
[your city/town]

Tips for Writing a Strong Comment

You do not need to sound formal or technical. The strongest comments are often clear, specific, and personal.

Instead of only writing:

“I oppose this project.”

Try explaining why:

“I oppose this project because I am concerned about air emissions near homes and schools, increased industrial development in a rural area, and the lack of adequate review of cumulative impacts.”

Instead of only writing:

“This project is bad for the environment.”

Try being more specific:

“I am concerned about how this project could affect groundwater, nearby wetlands, wildlife habitat, and stormwater runoff in an area that already experiences drainage and flooding concerns.”

A short, specific comment is better than no comment.

Commenting vs. Speaking at a Public Hearing

Some PSC dockets include a public hearing. A public hearing gives people an opportunity to speak their comment aloud, either in person or through another participation option listed in the hearing notice.

A written public comment and spoken public testimony may both become part of the public record, depending on the rules for that docket.

Before submitting more than one comment or planning to both speak and write, read the notice carefully. Some comment periods may include specific instructions about how comments are accepted and whether there are limits on the number of comments each person may submit.

If you are unsure what to do, choose the option you are most comfortable with and make sure your comment is submitted before the deadline.

How to Follow a PSC Docket

If you want to keep following a project, look for the project’s docket in the PSC’s case system.

The docket may include:

Application materials
Environmental review documents
Public notices
Hearing notices
Public comments
Agency correspondence
PSC staff memos
Commission decisions
Orders and approvals

You may also be able to sign up for docket notifications so you receive updates when new documents are filed.

Need Help Getting Started?

EVA cannot submit a comment for you, and this page is not legal advice.

But we can help residents understand the public comment process, identify issues to consider, and find public records connected to projects we are watching.

Your comment does not have to be perfect. It just has to be honest, specific, and submitted before the deadline.

Contact us below if you need assistance drafting your comment.