American Transmission Co. proposes new transmission line between Illinois and Wisconsin

The American Transmission Co. (ATC) filed an application with the Illinois Commerce Commission on Wednesday for the construction of a new transmission line between Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, and the village of Wadsworth, Illinois, to improve energy reliability.

“The ICC will conduct a comprehensive review of ATC’s application for the transmission line and substation, including the two proposed route options,” ATC Project Manager Barbara Mikolajczyk said. “The regulatory review process in Illinois also includes technical and public hearings anticipated in early 2017, with a final decision expected in spring 2017. The ICC will notify local residents and businesses of the dates and times of the hearings, which provide the public an opportunity to make their concerns known to the decision makers.”

The proposed project is part of the Wisconsin-Illinois Electric Reliability Project, which seeks to enhance energy reliability and access between the Wisconsin and Illinois border where a high risk of electricity outages is present.

The ATC proposed transmission line would run a three-to-five-mile transmission line between the northern side of Rosecrans Road – Highway 173 – in Illinois and Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. The project would directly address the risk of cascading outages in the area.

The estimated cost for the project is approximately $55 million to $66 million. If approved, construction would begin in the spring of 2020, with an in-service date of later that year.

The ATC will also file an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin by November.