100 miles of power lines approved: PSC signs off on project that will link Wausau, Fox Cities

WISCONSIN - Preliminary construction work could start this fall on a $260 million project that will link Wausau and the Fox Cities with 100 miles of new high-voltage power lines, an American Transmission Co. spokeswoman said recently.

The state Public Service Commission approved the project, which ATC says is important to relieve congestion on the power grid and enable a coal-fired power plant under construction near Wausau to run at full strength.

The project, which includes two 345,000-volt lines, a new 138,000-volt line, and a switching substation, carry a total cost of $260 million, the commission said.

ATC sought approval for the project more than a year ago. The lines are scheduled to be operational by the end of 2009, ATC spokeswoman Jackie Olson said.

Most of the construction will begin next year, but work on a temporary line that will be needed in one area will start this fall, she said.

The project approved includes a roughly 50-mile line between Wausau and the Shawano area, at a cost of $125 million. A second line would cross Oconto, Waupaca and Outagamie counties, linking New London and Oconto Falls, at a cost of $132 million.

The commission determined the new lines are needed to help alleviate a constrained transmission system and improve electric reliability in northeastern Wisconsin.

"Unlike other transmission line projects, there was no disagreement about the need for this line," said Commissioner Mark Meyer in a statement. "Without it, the new Weston 4 power plant could not operate at full output, and the 3,000-megawatt import delivery requirement of the Arrowhead Weston line would not be ensured."

The project was far less controversial than other power line projects that have been proposed by ATC. The Pewaukee-based company credits that to extensive outreach, including more than 20 community meetings, that took place before an application was filed with the commission, Olson said.

The power line, extending east from Wausau, would help provide a high-voltage tie-in not only with the Weston coal plant but also to the 345,000-volt Wausau-to-Duluth power line under construction between Wausau and Duluth, Minn.

Chairman Dan Ebert said the commission reviewed more than 1,000 pages of documents and hundreds of maps in making its decision.