The Town of Holland is suing the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin after the regulatory agency approved a major transmission line project that would stretch from the La Crosse to Madison areas last week.
Town officials submitted the lawsuit with the La Crosse County Circuit Court, following the PSC’s decision last Thursday to approve the Badger-Coulee Transmission Line Project. Holland Clerk Marilyn Pedretti said they want a judge to send the case back to the PSC so staff can conduct a more comprehensive needs analysis and environmental impact study.
Holland, a small town near the Mississippi River, could soon have two new major projects running through it: the Badger-Coulee line and the CapX2020 line, which is currently under construction.
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“Two sides of the road will have these huge power lines taking out property, taking out trees, creating this huge viewshed that’s going to be massive, and it’s going to be horrible to look at. Plus, the value of the properties along that highway are going to plummet,” said Pendretti.
Lawmakers and more than 90 Wisconsin communities along the proposed 345-kilovolt transmission line routes previously asked that the PSC conduct a full needs assessment, but the PSC did not fulfill that request.
Other groups opposing the line, Citizens Energy Task Force and Save Our Unique Lands, have said they will file a Petition for Rehearing with the PSC.
The PSC says it has not yet been served any appeals.
American Transmission Company and Xcel Energy, the companies building the Badger-Coulee line, say infrastructure upgrades are needed to support growing energy needs and renewable energy from the western U.S. The project is estimated to cost ratepayers $580 million.
According to ATC, real estate acquisitions with landowners affected by the route are underway.
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