Need for high-voltage line questioned all the way to Michigan

GREEN BAY - A major high voltage power line being considered for Northeast Wisconsin continues to raise questions.

In addition to residents not wanting a power line through their properties, issues related to the cost and need for such a project linger.

The American Transmission Company is spending time and consumer dollars to plan out a route for a high voltage power line through Northeast Wisconsin. It's needed company officials say to provide reliable electricity to Upper Michigan.

But in the town of Morgan--where the line will meet up with an existing substation--the plan is not sitting well.

"They're up in the air a little bit about it. Reason is nobody wants it in their backyard," said Morgan Town Chairman Fran Wranosky when asked what residents think about a power line through the area.

Property owners will get a chance to speak out at hearings conducted by the state's Public Service Commission once it formally receives an application to build the power line. That process is not expected to happen until 2014. Right now ATC is still trying to figure out which route from Green Bay to Morgan, and then Morgan to Iron Mountain would be best to build its 345-Kilovolt line.

"And the whole goal is to get down to two routes and submit them in the regulatory application," said Jackie Olson, spokeswoman for ATC. 

But FOX 11 has learned the Citizen Utility Board of Wisconsin, a consumer advocacy group, is already raising concerns about ATC's plan. 

"The concern is who is going to pay for these facilities?" said Charlie Higley, CUB of Wisconsin president.

Higley says about 90 percent of the project will be paid for by Wisconsin consumers, even though the transmission line is to benefit Michigan consumers. The reason being the lines will be built in Wisconsin and transmit power from utilities owned by Wisconsin companies.

But Higley also questions whether such a transmission line is even needed all the way to Michigan. He adds companies building the lines stand to make more money if approved.

"That's right, that's right," said Higley. "And this is what we have to guard against is utilities like ATC earn profits by building bigger and longer transmission lines. The more money they spend on a project the more their profits are."

The agency that coordinates such power lines, Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, so far has only okayed the 345-kilovolt line from Green Bay to Morgan.

In a follow-up response ATC acknowledges the Area 2 component of its plan from Morgan to Iron Mountain has not yet been approved by the MISO Board.

"We are continuing with routing and sitting activities to identify two routes to include in an application to the PSCW, if and when the project receives approval from MISO," said Olson.

The other monetary issue being raised has to do with the concern that real estate values will fall with the addition of a high voltage power line.

Morgan resident Dave Behrend is worried about his property value falling having purchased a six-acre parcel a year ago.

ATC points to independent studies that dispute any long term monetary effect.

"We really don't see any diminishing in property value. Sometimes people argue when there's uncertainty hanging over a property because a power line may go there, there may be some effect in that way," explained Olson.

Residents waiting for ATC's final decision on where it would like the power lines to go--are expected to get their first look by April.