Wisconsin Pyublic Service Begins Construction of Controversial Line

Published Friday, August 12, 2005 09:41:16 AM CDT in the Janesville, WI Gazette-Extra

Electrical Transmission line work begins in
Marathon, Clark counties of Wisconsin

Work began this week on construction of the Wisconsin leg of an electrical transmission line between Wausau and Duluth, Minn., a utility official says.

"We are up and running," Dave Valine, project manager for Wisconsin Public Service Corp. in Green Bay, said Thursday, adding the line was being built in Marathon and Clark counties.

The line has been opposed by the environmental group Clean Wisconsin and Save Our Unique Lands, a group of conservationists, who objected to it crossing through North Woods counties, preferring a different route west from Eau Claire.

Utilities have sought to build the line to provide relief on one of the most congested high-voltage power lines in the nation, a line that connects to Minnesota from west of Eau Claire.

Construction was permitted to begin after a state administrative law judge ruled last month that the state Department of Natural Resources acted appropriately in issuing a wetlands permit for the power line. SOUL and Clean Wisconsin had challenged the permit.

WPS is serving as general contractor on the project.