Frequently Asked Questions

The Western Wisconsin Transmission Connection will deliver reliable and affordable electricity to customers in the region. New bulk transmission connections are needed as energy companies transition to new renewable sources and retire aging coal plants
throughout the Upper Midwest. New transmission lines connecting to existing and expanded infrastructure will help ensure Xcel Energy, and other utilities, can continue to provide electric service to customers through this transition.

We are currently evaluating various route options, which can be viewed on the project map. We have begun to review the comments following the recent open houses. If there is additional information you’d like to provide about the route options, please submit them via the comment form.

• 2024: We plan to file an application for a Certificate of Public convenience and Necessity with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in mid-2024. That review is expected to take 12-18 months.
• 2025: If the PSCW approves our proposal, we would begin working with landowners to purchase easements and conduct detailed design and engineering for the project
• 2026: Construction expected to begin
• 2028: Construction complete; project placed in service and land restoration begins

No, this project is solely to develop new high-voltage transmission infrastructure that will connect renewable energy proposed throughout the region and manage the system as coal plants are retired in the coming years.

In some cases we will propose to expand easements where the project would be co- located with existing transmission infrastructure. 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 structures, terrain and other issues.

• 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.

• Transmission lines are the higher voltage lines that move power between substations where it is reduced to lower voltages to be carried on the Distribution lines to individual users.
• Distribution lines are lower voltage lines that connect local area substations directly to customer homes and businesses.

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 for safety and operational reasons need to ensure there are no tall-growth trees in the right of way that may impact operations.

For the most part, we are proposing single-pole transmission structures but there are situations where specialty structures may be needed. A gallery of visual simulations is located here.

• 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 to find
common ground 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 implanting the eminent domain process.

Transmission lines like this are designed to last for more than 50 years, and with proper maintenance can last for more than 75 years.

We are often asked about locating transmission lines underground, typically this occurs in heavily built-up areas such as densely populated cities where overhead space is not available and the distances between the substations are short enough to be possible with underground lines. Transmission lines are built above ground for many reasons, but it can be boiled down to; it is more efficient to build and operate overhead lines.
Underground lines cost 8-12 times the equivalent overhead design due to the materials needed to properly insulate and operate the lines safely, the construction to install them requires excavation of the entire route length, the right of way above underground lines must be kept completely clear, these factors are generally considered more impactful and thus less efficient when a viable overhead router is present.

Depending on the landscape, poles are generally about 800-1,000 feet apart.

• Xcel Energy works closely with landowners, local governments, state agencies, and other stakeholders to identify areas that may be appropriate for new transmission infrastructure. We review publicly available data and review project areas in-person to determine 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.

The main permit required for projects like this is a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, which defines why a new project is necessary to serve customers, if it is in the public interest, and where the route would be located. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin reviews the application, holds public hearings, and eventually votes on whether to approve the application.