Dive Brief:
- Opponents of the planned 345-kV Badger-Coulee power line in Wisconsin are urging state regulators to reconsider the project because of low demand for power.
- The Wisconsin Public Service Commission based its decision to approve the project to be built by American Transmission Co. and Xcel Energy on the expectation that load would grow in the area by 1.5% a year through 2020, according to SOUL of Wisconsin and Citizens Energy Task Force. Instead, Dairyland Power Cooperative's load has dropped by 9.4% over two years and Xcel Energy's load has dropped by 1.2%, the groups said in a PSC filing.
- Construction has started on the power line near La Crosse, Wisconsin, but the PSC could still revisit the issue.
Dive Insight:
The Badger-Coulee project would increase transmission capacity between Minnesota and Wisconsin, allowing renewable generation improved access to markets in the Midcontinent Independent Transmission System. Even with lower than expected load growth in the area, it seems unlikely that the PSC would reverse its decision approving the power line project.