Bay Lake Project open houses in Green Bay, Oconto Falls and Crivitz draw large crowds
Nearly 1,500 people attend meetings to learn about proposed transmission lines and substations
DE PERE, Wis. – Hundreds of area residents turned out this week for the first three Bay Lake Project open house meetings hosted by American Transmission Co. Area residents and officials provided feedback on ATC’s proposal for new transmission facilities in northeastern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Specifically, the company wanted comments on proposed corridors that could be used for routing and siting new transmission lines and a substation.
“This is exactly the kind of attendance we were hoping for,” explained David Hovde, ATC local relations consultant. “It’s important for people to get the facts and understand the project need and goals, as well as providing us with feedback. It’s especially important in these early phases of planning before decisions are made.”
The Bay Lake Project will improve electric system reliability in the region as well as increase stability of the system. “Although ATC has made significant reinforcements in the region in the past six years, the transmission upgrades have not kept pace with changing electric needs and demands,” explained Hovde. “Reduced output from generating units at power plants in the region also has placed increasing importance on transmission.”
The Bay Lake Project will address these concerns and includes the following components:
· a 345-kV line from a new substation in the Green Bay, Wis., area to an expanded substation near Ishpeming, Mich., (about 175 miles),
· a 138-kV line from the new Green Bay area substation to the Morgan Substation near Oconto Falls, Wis. (about 40 miles) and
· two 138-kV lines between Menominee County, Mich. and the Escanaba, Mich. areas (about 60 miles).
Additional open houses are scheduled in Michigan next week. ATC staff will be on hand to discuss with stakeholders the Bay Lake Project plans, including corridors and route options under consideration.
Monday, May 21, 2012: Iron Mountain, Mich.
Pine Mountain Resort
N3332 Pine Mountain Rd.
1 to 7 p.m. CDT
Tuesday, May 22, 2012: Escanaba, Mich.
Peninsula Bay Inn
2603 N. Lincoln Rd.
1 to 7 p.m. EDT
Wednesday, May 23, 2012: Ishpeming, Mich.
Country Village Banquet and Conference Center
1011 North Rd.
1 to 7 p.m. EDT
A second round of open houses is planned for later this year, after the potential corridors have been further evaluated and options narrowed.
Following the public outreach and involvement, ATC expects to file applications to build the line with regulatory agencies in Michigan and Wisconsin in late 2013 and in early 2014. If approved by both states, construction of the project would begin in 2015 to meet an in-service date of late 2016.