American Transmission Co. projects

Project website for a Wisconsin-based company that owns and operates the high-voltage electric transmission system that powers communities in portions of the Upper Midwest.

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ATC to discuss preliminary routes for proposed transmission lines to reinforce western Milwaukee County electric system

Open house will be March 10, 4-7 p.m. at the Wauwatosa Civic Center

PEWAUKEE, Wis. – American Transmission Co. will host a second open house on Thursday, March 10, at the Wauwatosa Civic Center to provide the public an opportunity to comment on preliminary route options for a proposed 138,000-volt transmission line to be located primarily in Wauwatosa. The project, announced in October 2010, involves the construction of a new We Energies substation adjacent to the existing Milwaukee County Substation and two transmission line connections to serve the new substation.

“Planning forecasts developed by We Energies’ show that additional power with a high level of reliability afforded by two connections to the area transmission grid is needed to serve local customers,” explains Mary Carpenter, local relations representative for ATC. “That is why we are proposing to build two transmission lines, each approximately two miles long, to connect to the new substation.”

Planning studies indicate that electric demand in the U.S. Highway 45 corridor in western Milwaukee County is expected to double as soon as 2016, and existing distribution substations and feeders that serve the area will not be adequate to meet anticipated future electric demand. “The new substation is needed to respond to the area’s growing electric needs,” says Andrew Gumm, We Energies manager of project siting. “In addition, the critical nature of the Level 1 adult and Level 1 pediatric trauma centers located within the Milwaukee Regional Medical Complex calls for a higher level of electric service reliability, one that includes a reserve source for electricity in the form of a second line in event that an alternate source is needed.”

ATC and We Energies staff will be on hand at the Wauwatosa Civic Center between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to discuss with stakeholders the plans, including preliminary route options being considered for the transmission lines.

“Since the first open house for the project last October, we have received valuable input from the public that, along with constructability and engineering considerations, has been used to evaluate potential corridors for the route,” says Carpenter. “We encourage the public to continue to provide us with feedback on the preliminary route options at this second of three open houses.”

ATC mailed open house invitations to potentially affected landowners and businesses. During the next year, ATC will narrow the preliminary route options to two before filing an application to build the lines with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in early 2012. If approved by the PSC, construction of the new line would begin in 2014 to meet an in-service date of 2015.

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ATC is a Wisconsin-based company that moves energy along the regional electric grid in parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois, serving more than 5 million electric consumers. We are experts at what we do: planning, maintaining, operating and protecting the grid. As the electric industry moves toward renewable generation sources, we are transforming our system to continue delivering energy reliably and safely. We proudly support STEM education programs that empower youth with the skills needed to succeed in tomorrow’s energy workforce. For more information, visit www.atcllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).