I do not want to have another high voltage power line in the Town, however, American Transmission Company (ATC) intends to build a 345 KV line terminating in the town. The endpoint is the substation just south of Highway 14. ATC's preferred route enters the town from the north and proceeds south on Bronner Road, across Airport Road and south to Hwy 14 along an existing utility corridor. The alternate route enters the town from the west and proceeds along Hwy 14 to the substation. The State of Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) will make the final determination if the line and the routing is necessary.
With history as a guide, ATC and its partner power companies, will likely receive approval from the PSC to construct this project. Power poles will be similar to the recently constructed power line entering the town from the east on Hwy 14 and along the beltline in Madison.
In summer 2012, the Town Board, myself included, voted to employ legal counsel to represent the town in this matter. We requested information from ATC and they responded. After their response, my position changed and I now believe we do not have a sufficient legal case to either stop the project or influence the PSC to select one route over the other. I have not supported continued legal counsel at $400/ hr. to represent the Town since Sept. 2012. Since then, the town has incurred over $20,000 in legal bills on this issue. My opinion is that we are in no stronger position now than we were in Sept. 2012.
I believe this issue is the most important financial consideration facing the voters in this election. Town Board Supervisors will make the decision to continue this expensive and unwinnable legal battle which could incur over $100,000 in additional costs if allowed to continue. All Town Board candidates owe the voters a clear position statement on this matter and let’s have the voters choose our future on the ATC issue.
I will provide any updates on this issue right here.
Please see the Town of Middleton website for our ATC letter and their response.
