Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about the Western Wisconsin Transmission Connection project
Project Overview
The Western Wisconsin Transmission Connection will deliver reliable and affordable electricity to customer in the region. New bulk transmission connections are needed as electric use throughout the region increases, aging plants in the Upper Midwest begin to reach the end of their projected lives, energy companies add more renewable energy to serve customers, and extreme conditions require new backbone grid connections to deliver electricity to power customers homes and businesses.
We filed an application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity that included two main route options for the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to consider. The route options can be reviewed on the project map. The PSCW will schedule public hearings later in 2025 where the public can make comments on the project and discuss issues related to the route options.
The project would begin at the Tremval Substation near Blair and follow an existing 161 kV line north to the Eau Claire area. Two options have been filed with the PSCW, Route 1 and Route 2. Route 1 would head west and north following existing transmission infrastructure, while Route 2 would head east and north following roads, existing transmission infrastructure, and some field and section boundaries. Xcel Energy has stated its preference for Route 2 as it is shorter, less expensive, and would affect fewer landowners.
- 2023-2024: Public outreach with landowners and local officials to ask for feedback on potential route options and local impacts.
- August 2024: Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity filed with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
- CPCN was declared complete in late 2024 paving the way for formal public review
- The PSCW is conducting their administrative review of the project, including accepting public comments from landowners and stakeholders.
- We expect public hearings to be scheduled in mid-2025 providing opportunities for landowners, stakeholders and others to make comments on the project overall and comments on the proposed route options.
- We expect the PSCW to make their decision on the CPCN application in late 2025.
If approved, we would work with landowners to purchase easements throughout 2026 with construction beginning in late 2026 and complete in 2028-2029.
No, this project is solely to develop new high-voltage transmission infrastructure that will connect new energy sources, including renewable energy, through the region. The project will also help deliver reliable electricity in a changing energy environment where aging plants are retired in the coming years, electric use is projected to grow significantly in the region, and build a more resilient system to respond to more extreme weather, such as heat and cold, that we have experienced in recent years.
Transmission Lines
- Transmission lines are the higher voltage lines that move power between substations where it is reduced to lower voltage to be carried on the distribution lines that serve individual customers.
- Distribution lines are lower voltage lines that connect local area substations directly to customer homes and businesses.
For the most part, we are proposing single-pole transmission structures, but there are situations where specialty structures may be required, such as where sharp angles or turns are required.
Transmission lines like this proposal are designed to last for more than 50 years, and with proper maintenance can last for more than 75 years.
Location and Permitting
Xcel Energy works closely with landowners, local governments, state agencies, and other stakeholders to identify areas that may be appropriate for new transmission lines. We review publicly available data and review projects areas in-person to determine potential locations. We generally look for existing infrastructure to follow, including existing roads, transmission lines, or field and property lines for potential locations.
A great deal of our process includes working with local landowners at open houses and public meetings to find out what issues are important in a geographic area, and using that information to minimize impacts when proposing new transmission lines.
In some cases we will propose to expand easements where the project would be co-located with existing transmission lines. Most 345-kV transmission lines require a 150-foot easement (75 feet on either side of the center of a single-pole structure). In some cases, the easement may be wider depending on location, type of pole structure, terrain and other issues.
An easement is a legal document that defines what can be done in a specific area. In the case of transmission line easements, utilities purchase an easement that allows us to build, operate, and maintain the transmission line after a project is approved by state regulatory agencies.
A right-of-way is the specific area where a project is located.
Xcel Energy has a solid track record of successfully negotiating easement purchases with landowners. While state law does give utilities the ability to use eminent domain for projects approved by the PSCW, we prefer to work closely with landowners and negotiate the purchase of easements. While we understand that won’t be possible in all cases, we make every effort to do so before implementing the eminent domain process.
The main permit required for projects like this is a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, which defines why a new project is needed to serve customers, if it is in the public interest, and where the route would be located. The PSCW reviews the application, holds public hearings, and eventually votes on whether to approve the application.
Construction Process
The amount of tree trimming or clearing that may need to occur depends on the route selected by the PSCW. We attempt to limit tree clearing, but to ensure the safe and continued operation of the transmission lines, no tall-growth trees are allowed in the right-of-way that may connect with the transmission lines and cause outages or other issues.
We are often asked about locating transmission lines underground. There are instances where transmission lines can be placed underground, such as densely populated cities where overhead space is not available, and the distances between the substations are short enough to be operational for an underground infrastructure.
It’s very rare for transmission lines with a voltage higher than 115 kV to be built underground due to the cost, technical complexity and operational issues. When built overhead, the heat generated by electricity flowing through the conductor/wire is dissipated into the air. If built underground, the lines must be cooled in an underground duct. This is very expensive and complex, and can lead to longer outages if a fault along the line occurs as materials, resources, and specialized construction and repair crews aren’t often available. Additionally, the cost of construction and specialized equipment can raise a project’s cost by more than 10 times, which must be borne by customers.
Depending on the landscape, poles will generally be placed 800 to 1,000 feet apart.
Health and Safety
- The World Health Organization (WHO), and research organizations, have studied the potential for EMF to affect human health and have never found correlation between exposure to EMF and negative health issues.
- We encourage landowners to review information at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs322/ and https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/myths to learn what those organizations have detailed about the issue.