The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has deemed complete American Transmission Co.’s application to build new 345- and 138-kV transmission lines in northeastern Wisconsin. The North Appleton-Morgan transmission line project, part of ATC’s Bay Lake Project, includes facilities in Outagamie, Brown, Shawano, Oconto and Marinette counties. The project is needed to address reliability concerns, changes in generation and demand in the region, and the evolution of a wholesale electricity market.
“Without these reinforcements, areas of northeastern Wisconsin, including Green Bay and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, would be vulnerable to widespread outages,” said David Hovde, ATC local relations consultant.
The completeness determination begins an extensive regulatory review by the PSC, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture. The review will include public and technical hearings as well as an environmental impact statement.
Estimated cost of the project is $307 million to $327 million, depending on the route and substation alternatives. If approved, construction would begin in 2017 and the line would be placed in service in 2019.
