Badger Coulee Transmission Line Project
American Transmission Co. and Xcel Energy have plans for a high-voltage transmission line in western Wisconsin that would address electric system reliability issues locally and in the Midwest, provide economic savings and support renewable energy policy. The area, from north of La Crosse to northern Dane County, is being considered for the approximately 150- to 180-mile, 345-kilovolt line.
Studies indicate that the Badger Coulee Transmission Line Project is a multi-benefit project that would deliver benefits to Wisconsin and the Midwest region in three important ways:
Improve electric system reliability locally and regionally
- Better enable Wisconsin to import power
- Offset the need for approximately $160 million in lower voltage upgrades in western Wisconsin communities
- Alleviate stability issues on regional transmission grid
Deliver economic savings for Wisconsin utilities and electric consumers
- Provide utilities with greater access to the wholesale electricity market with potential savings that can be passed on to electric consumers
- Improve efficiency of grid; more efficient grid reduces the cost to deliver energy
- Connect to high-quality renewable resources in the nation’s western wind alley, which translates into hundreds of millions of dollars in potential savings
Expand infrastructure to support public policy for greater use of renewables
- Establish another pathway for renewable energy into Wisconsin with connections to key load centers
- Match regional studies (Strategic Midwest Area Renewable Transmission Study and MISO Regional Generation Outlet Study) evaluating transmission options that best deliver renewable energy while also addressing reliability issues
Public involvement
ATC and Xcel Energy have a practice of engaging the public and other interested stakeholders in its proposed transmission line projects as a way to identify possible routes far in advance of filing a regulatory application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Click here to learn more about ATC’s public involvement process.
| Area benefited: | Western Wisconsin communities, the state of Wisconsin and the entire Midwest region |
| Line length: | Approximately 150 to 180 miles, depending on ordered route |
| Voltage: | 345,000 volts |
| Estimated cost: | Approximately $470 million to $500 million, depending on ordered route |
| End points: | The southern end point of the line will be the North Madison Substation in the Town of Vienna, continuing to the Cardinal Substation in the Town of Middleton. The western end point of the line will be Xcel Energy's new Briggs Road Substation near Holmen. |
| PSC Docket ID: | 137-CE-160 Click here to visit the PSC website. |
| *Dates are anticipated and subject to changes | |
|---|---|
| Public involvement: | 2010-2012 |
| Submit application to Public Service Commission: | 2013 |
| Receive PSC decision: | 2014 |
| Begin construction: | 2016 |
| In-service date: | 2018 |
