< Highlighted Cases
Counties of Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire, and Trempealeau, Wisconsin
Docket ID: 5-CE-158
Joint Application of Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin and American Transmission Company LLC, as Electric Public Utilities, for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Rebuild Existing Transmission Infrastructure and Construct and Operate LRTP Tranche 1 Project 5, which consists of Expanding the Tremval and Eau Claire Substations, a New Jump River Substation, and a New 345 kV Transmission Line connecting the Tremval-Eau Claire-Jump River Substations, in the Counties of Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire, and Trempealeau, Wisconsin, to be known as the Western Wisconsin Transmission Connection Project.
View and Download Project Map
Jump to Section:
Interactive Map
Use the interactive map to explore the project.
Tips for using the map
- Click the tiles in the upper left hand corner to Zoom in, Zoom out, return to the Default map view, or use the Find my location function.
- Click the tiles in the upper right hand corner to Search and Find address or place, toggle on/off Layers, choose a different Basemap, or Measure distance and area.
View Map in New Window
Application Summary
Overview
Northern States Power Company – Wisconsin (Xcel Energy) and American Transmission Company (ATC), together as the applicants, are seeking a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) approval to construct a new 345 kV (kilovolt) high voltage transmission line (HVTL) in the counties of Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire, and Trempealeau, Wisconsin. The project would also rebuild existing lines, construct new 345 kV substations depending on the chosen transmission route, and expand or upgrade multiple existing substations. The project proposes two potential routes, Route 1 and Route 2, that share a common segment at the southern portion of the project.
The project would start at an expansion of the existing Tremval Substation near the Town of Blair in Trempealeau County and run north to the east of Eau Claire where the two proposed routes diverge. Route 1 would proceed west into Eau Claire, then northeast to end at the proposed Jump River Substation North near Sheldon in Chippewa County. Route 2 would interconnect with the proposed Elk Farm Substation and proceed east, turn north, then east until ending at the proposed Jump River South Substation in Clark County. The Proposed Route 1 would be approximately 94 miles in length including a total of 1,678 acres of Right-of-Way (ROW). The Proposed Route 2 would be approximately 80 miles in length including a total of 1,450 acres of ROW. The Common Segment between both routes would be approximately 40 miles in length including a total of 708 to 712 acres of ROW, depending on the chosen route. Route 1 would share 64 percent of its total ROW with existing ROW, and Route 2 would share 38 percent with existing ROW.
Applicant stated need
The project is one part of the MISO Long-Range Transmission Planning (LRTP) Tranche 1 Portfolio of projects (this project is specifically LRTP Project 5) recommended to meet transmission system reliability, economic, and public policy needs. The applicants state the project would fill a need for a reliable transmission grid to support future generation resources and future load. The project would allow for the interconnection of new renewable energy sources as fossil-fuel generation sources are retired. Additionally, the project would reduce load on multiple facilities in northern and northwestern Wisconsin.
Estimated cost
The applicant stated that the estimated project cost would be approximately $669.3 million if Route 1 is selected and approximately $483.3 million if Route 2 is selected.
Project location
The project would be located within Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire, and Trempealeau Counties, Wisconsin.
Proposed schedule
Key Application Documents
Access Docket 5-CE-158 in the PSC Case Management System to view additional information.
Utilize the
Staff Involved tab for contact details for PSC staff assigned to the docket, including the case coordinator and the environmental review coordinator.
Click the
Documents tab for a complete list of docket documents categorized by document type.
Access Docket 5-CE-158
Opportunities for Public Participation
The Commission offers several opportunities for public participation in its proceedings. Click the links below to stay updated on these opportunities, which may include providing input regarding the scope of environmental impact documents, attending public hearings, offering comments, or signing up for email notifications related to a particular case.
< Highlighted Cases