Jackson County Board approves resolution on proposed transmission line
BLACK RIVER FALLS - The Jackson County Board unanimously approved a resolution concerning the construction of a high-voltage transmission project proposed by the American Transmission Project Initiators LLC (ATC) and Xcel Energy to rebuild approximately 175 miles of existing transmission lines and construct approximately 200 – 205 miles of 345kV transmission lines, known as the Grid Forward – Central Wisconsin Transmission Line Project, PSC Docket ID 5-CD-157, from Columbia County north to Wood County and west to Trempealeau County. The resolution was passed at the April 15 meeting of the Board at the County Government Center.
The high voltage transmission new construction primary route enter Jackson County from Clark County, east of Merrillan, splitting the Village of Merrillan, traveling west through the Village of Alma Center, through Silver Mounds, before reaching the rebuild portion of the project which travels to and around the Village of Hixton, to the Village of Taylor, before reaching the Trempealeau/Jackson County line. This route, while primarily in Clark County, once reaching Jackson County, splits the small Villages of Merrillan and Alma Center and their school boundaries, cuts across farms, wildlife and waterfowl habitats, water resources, cultural, economic and archeological districts, including Silver Mound, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places;.
The high voltage transmission new construction alternate route enters Jackson County from Wood County, traveling through the County Forest in the Towns of City Point, Komensky and Adams, before reaching the Hatfield vacation and residential areas, through Town of Alma, before reaching the rebuild portion of the project which travels to and around the Village of Hixton, to and around the Village of Taylor, before reaching the Trempealeau/Jackson County line.
Regardless which route is chosen, the resolution calls for Xcel, ATC and the Public Service Commission (PSC) and contractors to maximize cost-effective conservation, efficiency and load management; Rely to the greatest extent possible on renewable generation; Support local ownership of energy generation that includes dispersed renewable energy to support the local economy including the creation of sustainable jobs; Minimize the size, scale, voltage and environmental impacts of electric transmission; Be required to follow local and county ordinances and permitting requirements during construction, facing penalties for non-compliance; and should combine aggressive energy efficiency, expanded implementation of demand side management and increased dispersed generation incentives with improvements to low voltage transmission lines as needed for in state reliability be completed prior to approving a high transmission project.
The Board also approved a resolution that the Patrol Sergeant be placed on the Jackson County Wage Scale in Grade 14, by the Jackson County Human Resources and authorizes the use of Jackson County Ho-Chunk funds to pay for a four-year extension camera service maintenance agreement with our current security camera provider – SGTS (also known as the SGTS Genetec Advantage Service Maintenance Agreement) at the cost of $31,246.56.
