Construction initiates in Wisconsin for Cardinal-Hickory Creek Transmission Line Project
Initial activities will include vegetation removal in Dane County
PEWAUKEE, Wis. – American Transmission Co., ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power Cooperative, the co-owners of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek Transmission Line Project, will begin construction in Wisconsin this week of the 102-mile, 345,000-volt electric transmission line. Construction of the project in Iowa began in April 2021.
“To keep the Cardinal-Hickory Creek project on schedule with the in-service date of December 2023 and provide the transmission needed to support over 100 renewable generation projects in Wisconsin and the region, we are moving forward now as planned,” said ATC Senior Project Manager Jacob Valentine.
Federal and state court challenges filed against this project have not affected the advancement of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek project. ATC, ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power Cooperative have the regulatory authorizations to move forward with next steps.
ATC will construct the eastern half of the transmission line project from the Cardinal Substation in Middleton, Wis. to the forthcoming Hill Valley Substation in Montfort, Wis., starting with vegetation removal on Nov. 1 in Dane County. ITC Midwest will construct the western half of the transmission line project in Wisconsin from the Hill Valley Substation in Montfort to the Nelson Dewey Substation north of Cassville, Wis., with work planned to begin in the coming weeks. The co-owner utilities have been in communication with landowners over the past year during pre-construction activities while field crews also have been notifying landowners about upcoming construction activities.
Pre-construction activities have been ongoing since the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) approved the project in September 2019. These activities include environmental and archaeological studies, and easement negotiations with landowners along the route.
Requests to interconnect new renewable generation sources with the transmission system are at an all-time high while new projects are backlogged due to a lack of transmission capacity. The Cardinal-Hickory Creek Transmission Line Project will provide a vital link to the future of our region’s renewable energy developments. This transmission line is critical to ensuring a cleaner, safer and more affordable energy future for the state. Its construction and operability will reduce energy costs, improve the reliability and flexibility of the state’s transmission system and help support the interconnection of renewable generation in the Upper Midwest. Currently, 114 renewable generation projects totaling nearly 17 gigawatts are dependent upon its construction – enough to power millions of homes with clean energy.
About American Transmission Co.
Formed in 2001 as the nation’s first multi-state transmission-only utility, American Transmission Co. is a Wisconsin-based company that owns and operates 10,081 miles of electric transmission lines and 582 substations in portions of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois. Our transmission network enables the movement of electricity produced from all forms of generation resources to areas where it is needed – helping to keep the lights on, businesses running and communities strong. Visit our website at www.atcllc.com.
About ITC Midwest
ITC Midwest LLC is a subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp., the largest independent electricity transmission company in the U.S. ITC Midwest operates more than 6,600 circuit miles of transmission lines in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri, and holds utility status in Wisconsin. ITC Midwest is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and maintains regional operating facilities in Dubuque, Iowa City and Perry, Iowa; and Albert Lea and Lakefield, Minnesota. For further information visit www.itc-holdings.com. ITC is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry. For further information visit www.fortisinc.com.
About Dairyland
Power Dairyland Power Cooperative, with headquarters in La Crosse, Wisconsin, provides wholesale electricity to 24-member distribution cooperatives and 17 municipal utilities. A Touchstone Energy Cooperative, Dairyland’s service area encompasses 62 counties in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois. For more information, please visit www.dairylandpower.com.