The Wisconsin Public Service Commission granted final approval Thursday to the proposed Badger Coulee transmission line.
With an estimated cost of $580 million, the 180-mile, high-voltage line will run from the La Crosse area north to Black River Falls and then south to the Madison area.
The line will be built by American Transmission Co. and Xcel Energy, which will start contacting property owners along the route next month to negotiate easements for use of their land. According to ATC and Xcel, the project will improve system reliability, deliver cheaper power, and provide a conduit for wind energy from Minnesota and Iowa to regions to the east. However, opponents argue Wisconsin’s energy use is flat, and the line will only increase profits for utilities while discouraging more cost-effective alternatives like energy efficiency and solar power.
Construction is expected to begin in spring 2016 and the line is expected to be in service in 2018.
