Dive Brief:
- American Transmission Co. (ATC) plans to spend up to $3.6 billion over the next 10 years on 70 projects to upgrade its networks in Wisconsin, upper Michigan, Iowa and Illinois.
- The plan released Thursday by the Pewaukee, Wis.-based company calls for $1.2 billion in additions to the network, $1.1 billion in maintenance and $500 million in regional projects. The cost will be spread across the customers of the utilities that own ATC.
- ATC said the grid upgrades are driven by evolving electricity markets and the growing use of renewable power. They will ease congestion and help keep electricity prices in check, ATC said.
Dive Insight:
The ATC plan has to be approved by state regulators. Already, the Wisconsin Citizens Utility Board, a watchdog group, and environmental groups are questioning the need for the improvements and the costs to ratepayers. "Frankly, the days are numbered for centralized energy," one activist told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, advocating instead a drive for more utility efficiency programs.