MADISON (WKOW)– The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin unanimously voted to tentatively approve the proposed Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line project today.
“Transmission is the backbone of clean energy alternatives to fossil fuel,” said Commission Chairperson Rebecca Cameron-Valcq. “I support this project because I firmly believe that it will provide tangible economic and reliability benefits to Wisconsin customers, and will serve as the cornerstone to achieving a zero carbon future,” said Cameron-Valcq.
The transmission line will run about 87 miles from northeastern Iowa and into Southern Wisconsin. The estimated cost of the project is approximately $492 million. Wisconsin’s portion is estimated to be approximately $67 million.
The remainder will be paid by ratepayers in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) member states.
The project has been met with strong opposition from residents in the proposed areas and environmental groups. They state that the line will damage the environment and bring property values down.
“I think we should promote local generation, local solar and municipal solar instead of giving all our taxpayer money to all these big companies,” said Grant County resident Linda Grice. “It’s going to destroy a lot of natural habitat and a lot of our farmland,” said Grice.
Construction is expected to start in October 2020 with the line coming into service by December 2023.
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