Wisconsin Ponders Power Lines

Posted on | January 10, 2012 |

by Sarah Squires, Winona Post, January 10, 2012

Power line towers that rival the height of the Statue of Liberty are being constructed across Minnesota, expected to cross the Mississippi River in Alma, Wis. But where they go from there is still up in the air, with permitting from Wisconsin not yet secure and two routes still on the table: one that would follow existing lines along the Great River Road south to La Crosse, another that would head inland to Arcadia and then run south.

CapX2020 is a joint initiative of 11 transmission-owning utilities in Minnesota and the surrounding region, adding 345kV lines from Brookings, South Dakota across Minnesota to La Crosse, Wis. The lines will eventually connect to the Badger Coulee line to Madison and then to other lines that head to Chicago and farther east. Project advocates say the new power lines are needed to meet future energy demands in the area, and will include renewable energy sources to help meet Minnesota’s renewable energy standard, requiring 25 percent of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025.

But a growing group of concerned residents has been organizing in opposition to the project. Some worry that the new power lines — 150 feet tall — will impact the scenic Great River Road, mar the bluffs on the Wisconsin side and harm the sensitive environments along the Mississippi River. Others don’t want to give up their land or homes to eminent domain for the project and worry about declining property values, and still others believe the lines aren’t needed, and are really an attempt to bring coal power from the Dakotas to the eastern part of the country, while asking rate payers in Minnesota and Wisconsin to foot the bill.

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