Transmission Line Project with Northern Wisconsin Electric in Eureka, Milltown, and St. Croix Falls Townships.

Docket # 4280 CE 106 with the Wisconsin State PSC.

Neighbors who live along the proposed route have serious concerns about health risks and economic impact this power line will have on their families and businesses.

• Check the Wisconsin PSC web site for latest official news: http://psc.wi.gov When you get to this site you will have to enter the docket number (4280 CE 106)

• Background information (click here).

• Files from the PSC Web site (supporting documents relating to this case). I am providing a mirror for these documents because when you download them from the PSC site they are in an un-readable format for many computers. (click here for list of documents)

• October 2009 - After reading these documents I had a few questions and observations. I wrote a letter to Dave Dahlberg listing these concerns (read letter here)

• Discussioin with local town board member ( not Centuria ) regarding approval process for public works projects. <click here for notes on conversation>

• December 2009 - Newspaper article in Polk County Ledger by Lynda Berg: "Dan Olesen of Northwestern Wisconsin Electric attended the regular meeting of the Centuria Village Board Monday night seeking approval for a new proposed route for a transmission line through the village’s sewer plant. The line will ultimately service a new substation.regarding problems with primary route proposal.... " <click here to view entire article>

Background information and official documents relating to this application to the PSC:

1. Letter from NWElectric Company to Land Owners:
   • Text of message (PDF)
   • Complete letter wth maps of proposed route (PDF).
2. As of October 2009 the application has been made to the PSC. Here is a link to the documents site. If you are trying to download these you will notice the file name is viewdoc.aspx. In order to read these on your computer, you may have to change the file name. Rename the file by replacing the extension (follows the dot in the file name) to '.pdf'. After this Adobe Acrobat reader will open the file.

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The following are the files available on the web site as of October 2009 (converted to PDF for your convenience:

September 9, 2009 - Joint Application For PSCW Certificate of Authority and WDNR Utility Permit Application - Centuria Project 69 kV Transmission Line and Distribution Substation (unless otherwise noted these are PDF documents):

• Joint Application Document This is the main proposal document.
• Appendix A Part 1 Maps and overhead photos
• Appendix A Part 2 More Maps - environmental features and tables
• Appendix B & C This document contains letters from land owners.
• Appendix D & F wetland permits.
• Appendix G List 2 (Excel document) Parcel owners along proposed route.
• Appendix G List 1 (Excel document) Local officials.
• Appendix E readings from 'similar' power line (EMF).

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October 16, 2009 - Article in Wisconsin State Journal about ATC clearing right of way under their power lines in southern Wisconsin. This is why we don't want these lines to go up over our trees! The rules keep changing. http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/environment/article_567109d8-b9e4-11de-a488-001cc4c03286.html

November 2009 --

Discussions with members of town boards in other parts of the state who have dealt with similar situations have raised the following points:

1. Power companies invest millions of dollars in public relations spots to convince people that these power lines are necessary. This lays the foundation for a blanket level of public support upon which they can propose whatever project is expedient to their needs.
2. Land owners are not aware they have any recourse to the power companies plans. There is a defeatism that is prevailent in our society that says; "There's nothing you can do. It's a done deal."
3. Power line routes are almost never proposed to cross land owned by members of the town board or other political body. This is why it's important to get on these boards or else have a freind or family member get on these boards.
4. Representatives from the power companies will promise you anything to get your consent. Make sure you get it in writing before you believe it. They will say things like:
   • "We usually don't clear the whole right of way." Until they do. They will say they are bound by federal regulations, or the homeland security agency requires them to clear.
   • "This will bring three phase right in front of your property." implying that you will be given this power from the new transmission line where this is in fact impossible.
   • Or; "The radiation from your microwave is far stronger than any radiation from the power line." (this is cute because, of course we all run our microwaves 24/7/365).
5. The way to stop the right of way is to say; "NO". You can believe this is what the 'important' people say. People don't say 'no' because they belive they cannot (or it won't do any good). If the power companies didn't have to ask, do you really think they'd bother.

Anyway, that's what they said (I'm not sure I agree with it all, but....)

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