ICC approves Pleasant Prairie-Zion Energy Center project
Wisconsin regulatory review still underway
PEWAUKEE, Wis. – American Transmission Co. on Tuesday received approval from the Illinois Commerce Commission to build an approximately 5.8-mile, 345-kilovolt electric transmission line called the Pleasant Prairie-Zion Energy Center Transmission Line Project.
The northern end point of the line will be the Pleasant Prairie Substation in Pleasant Prairie, Wis. The southern end point will be the Zion Energy Center Substation in the City of Zion, Ill. The estimated cost of the project is $31 million.
“We are pleased that the Illinois Commerce Commission has approved this project,” said Mary Carpenter, ATC local relations representative. “This project will help relieve transmission congestion and strengthen the electric system in southeastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois. It also will provide economic benefits to utilities and electric consumers by improving access to the regional energy market.”
The application for the Illinois portion of the line included a preferred route and two alternatives. The ICC ordered ATC’s approximately 1.8-mile preferred route in Illinois. The preferred route in Illinois begins at the Illinois-Wisconsin border, generally heading south along the eastern portion of railroad right-of-way west of the Trumpet Park Subdivision, and ending at the northeast side of the Zion Energy Center Substation.
ATC anticipates a decision from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in May 2012. ATC filed an application for the Wisconsin portion of the line with the PSC in October 2011. The PSC currently is reviewing ATC’s application, which included a preferred and alternate route. If approved by the PSC, construction would begin in late 2012 to meet an anticipated in-service date of 2013.