PSC issues order for ATC’s North Appleton-Morgan transmission line
Project includes 345,000- and 138,000-volt lines, substation work
MADISON, Wis. – The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin issued the final order spelling out terms and conditions to be met in the construction of American Transmission Co.’s North Appleton-Morgan Transmission Line Project in Outagamie, Brown, Shawano and Oconto counties.
“The approval of the North Appleton–Morgan project by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin represents a major step forward in strengthening the electric transmission grid in northeastern Wisconsin,” said David Hovde, senior local relations representative for American Transmission Co. “We will continue to work with landowners and other interested parties as we move into the construction phase of the project.”
Landowners who live along the project route will be contacted by ATC real estate representatives beginning this summer in preparation for a summer 2016 construction start.
As part of ATC’s Bay Lake Project announced in 2012, North Appleton-Morgan includes:
- A new 345-kV line and a new 138-kV line between the North Appleton Substation on French Road in the Town of Freedom in Outagamie County and the Morgan Substation in Oconto County (about 45 miles),
- Expanded facilities at North Appleton and Morgan substations,
- A new Benson Lake Substation at the site of the Amberg Substation in Marinette County to accommodate a large voltage-control device and
- Additional work at 11 substations in northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
ATC met with landowners, local officials and other interested stakeholders over nearly two years to develop route alternatives for the new transmission lines. Single-circuit, self-supporting steel monopole structures will be used in most locations. The typical height of the structures will be 85 feet on the 138-kV line and 120 feet on the 345-kV line.
Estimated cost of the project is $327 million.
Plans for the project will follow this general timeline:
Property owner notifications June 2015
Begin easement negotiations Late 2015
Construction start July 2016
In-service date Second quarter 2019
The project application and other documents associated with the regulatory review process are available at www.psc.wi.gov under Docket No. 137-CE-166.