ATC to discuss preliminary route corridors for Bay Lake Project at open houses
Proposed transmission lines and substations to reinforce transmission grid in northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
DE PERE, Wis. – American Transmission Co. will host a series of public informational meetings in May to provide area landowners and members of the public an opportunity to comment on ATC’s proposal for new transmission lines and substations to be located in northeastern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Specifically, the company will seek feedback on corridors to be used for routing and siting new transmission lines and a substation.
“The Bay Lake Project will improve electric system performance in the region as well as increase stability and reliability of the system,” explained David Smith, ATC manager of reliability planning. “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. Reduced output from generating units at power plants in the region has also 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).
At the open houses, ATC staff will be on hand to discuss with stakeholders the Bay Lake Project plans, including corridors and route options under consideration.
The open houses will take place on:
Monday, May 14, 2012: Green Bay, Wis.
Radisson Hotel and Conference Center / Wolf Room
2040 Airport Dr.
1 to 7 p.m. CDT
Tuesday, May 15, 2012: Oconto Falls, Wis.
Falls Area Community Center
535 N. Munsert Ave.
1 to 7 p.m. CDT
Wednesday, May 16, 2012: Crivitz, Wis.
Shaffer Resort / Women’s Club
N7217 Shaffer Rd.
1 to 7 p.m. CDT
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 N. Rd.
1 to 7 p.m. EDT
Following 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.
Preliminary cost of the facilities is estimated to be between $470 million and $705 million for the 345-kV projects and between $125 million and $190 million for the 138-kV projects.