New electric transmission line proposed for Minocqua-Woodruff area
Project needed to ensure local-area reliability
DE PERE, Wis. — American Transmission Co. is in the early stages of planning a new power line project to improve electric reliability in the Minocqua-Woodruff area. Local electricity use continues to increase at about three to four percent each year, which is taxing the distribution system operated by Wisconsin Public Service Corp. A new line extending the transmission system from the Clear Lake Substation on Highway 47 near Mid Lake Road to a new substation proposed by WPS along Highway 47 near Arnett Road west of Woodruff appears to be the best solution for future reliability.
“We are in the preliminary stages of this project,” explains Lee Meyerhofer, senior local relations representative for ATC. “We have identified a broad study area to look for possible corridors or route to locate this line, which will be about seven miles long.”
ATC will host a series of public open houses to discuss the project with community members before filing its regulatory application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in late 2009. The first open house is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 13, at the
Woodruff Town Hall, 1418 First Ave. from 1 to 3 pm and from 5 to 7 pm.
“The open house will be informal,” Meyerhofer said. “No presentations are scheduled; we ask that interested residents drop in to talk with our project team members.” Representatives from ATC and Wisconsin Public Service will be on hand to answer questions regarding project need and benefits, routing and siting, the regulatory review process, engineering considerations, environmental impacts and other issues.
Additional information about this project, known as the Clear Lake-Woodmin transmission line project, is available online at www.atc-projects.com