Landowners are sitting between a rock and a hard place
Terry Bowe (standing) beseeched residents, March 4, who will be impacted by a new transmission line by Xcel, to submit their written comments to the Public Service Commission. The two routes have yet to be decided upon – one running through Cornell/Holcombe, and the other through the Cadott area – so any concerns or corrections need to be addressed. Photo by Ginna Young
By Ginna Young
A transmission line extending power to 345 kilovolt, is set to be built by Xcel Energy, but it remains to be seen which route that will take. Therefore, the Public Service Commission (PSC) is conducting environmental impact statement (EIS) sessions, so they can obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), per state statute.
One such session was held at the Lake Holcombe Town Hall, March 4, for PSC and Xcel personnel to take written comments, and go over the plans with affected residents.
Once the CPCN is complete, three PSC three commissioners go over the case and the issues to be decided, on which path the route takes.
Route 1 would run from the existing Eau Claire substation to Chippewa Falls, through Cornell, to the existing Sheldon substation, while Route 2 would run from Eau Claire to near Owen, passing through the Cadott area.
The existing lines will be replaced, with the new line right built right next to it; then, Xcel will put the old 160 line back on the new structure. That will be the general method used, but is not the case everywhere.
While building more capacity is a good thing and can lead to future development, it can also be a problem for landowners. Some feel it’s dangerous to have the lines so close to where they live and work, while others are concerned about the financial impact of the plan.
For example, one person lives next to the Old Abe State Trail and given the distance of the proposed lines to the home, the right-of-way is going to get tricky, leaving them, as he said, between a rock and a hard place.
“There’s nowhere else to go with that tower, but in our yard,” said the landowner. “And the easement’s going to go right through our bedroom.”
Others felt as though the maps regarding the proposed project are not accurate. That’s why the PSC shared that they are holding these sessions to make sure the information presented to the commissioners is correct.
Still others, such as Town of Eagle Point chairman Chuck Hebert, wanted to know if the plan has taken the Comprehensive Plan that each town is required by the state to update every 10 years, into account. A comprehensive Plan sets the tone for what development is expected in the next 10 years, in a township.
However, depending on the route, the transmission line could go through what is agricultural property in Eagle Point, diminishing the value of the property.
“You don’t seem to care about that,” said Herbert, who was assured all Comprehensive Plans are taken into consideration.
While the public comment period ends Friday, March 7, for the EIS portion, there will be technical hearings and a public hearing yet to come. To submit comments and concerns, residents and business owners can do so online, at psc.wi.gov, as well as view the map and sign up for meeting alerts.
Town of Anson resident Terry Bowe feels that the value of Old Abe State Trail must not be understated, not only as economic artery connecting Chippewa Falls to Cornell, but also as a living relic of history, which was at first, a Native American route, then a railroad route and now, a scenic biking path.
In order to have their concerns taken into consideration, Bowe asked the large crowd present to continue to show up to sessions and to submit their written comments.
“This is what it takes to get what we would like to see,” said Bowe. “And we have value in requesting it and expecting it.”
