ATC announces plan to improve transmission system serving Sparta, Tomah
Project involves rebuilding and adding a circuit within existing transmission right-of-way
PEWAUKEE, Wis. – American Transmission Co. plans to rebuild and upgrade an existing electric transmission line that connects the Monroe County Substation near Sparta and the Council Creek Substation near Tomah. ATC also will build a new substation as part of the project to improve electric system reliability.
“Rebuilding this line, adding the new circuit and building the new substation will provide many benefits to the electric transmission system serving the Sparta and Tomah communities,” says Charles Gonzales, ATC local relations representative. “The line will improve electric system reliability, increase efficiency of the transmission system and provide economic savings due to the transmission system’s ability to access lower-cost generation when it’s economic for the local utility to do so and move it into the area.”
The existing transmission system that serves the area is approximately 40 years old and is susceptible to overloads and severe low voltages. Work on the 17-mile line, primarily along Highway 16, will involve replacing the poles and wires on the existing 69-kilovolt transmission line, adding a 161-kV circuit to the new steel poles and building the new Timberwolf Substation approximately one half-mile mile south of Interstate 90 along Highway 131.
ATC is coordinating with Dairyland Power Cooperative, Xcel Energy, Alliant Energy and Oakdale Electric Cooperative on the project. Construction of the approximately $36 million project will be completed within the area of the existing right-of-way and is expected to be in service mid-2013.
ATC is conducting an open house to provide more information about the proposed project and answer questions. The public is invited to drop in at the open house on Tuesday, June 8, between 4 and 7 p.m. at Ambassador Baptist Church, 15623 Highway 16, located 6 miles east of Sparta and 10 miles west of Tomah. No formal presentation is planned.