GRANT COUNTY
TO VOTE ON
CARDINAL HICKORY CREEK
RESOLUTION
County Administration Committee
Approved Resolution March 13, by 6-1 vote
Following months of public and elected official outreach and education by municipalities and organizations opposing the Cardinal Hickory Creek transmission line proposal, on March 20, the Grant County Board of Supervisors will finally consider adoption of a Resolution that would add numerous protections for landowners, local economies and electric customers— not only in Grant County, but across the entire Midwest.
If the transmission line builders and the Wisconsin PSC adhere to the requests in the resolution [1] which passed the Administration Committee last week by a vote of 6-1, the Cardinal Hickory Creek transmission line proposal transmission line would be subject to economic examination that has caused states to reject or downsize more than nine expansion transmission line proposals in recent years [2].
The resolution presented to the county board by the Village of Montfort and the Town of Wingville last December, resembles those adopted by more than 100 municipalities and 9 counties in Wisconsin [3]. It requests transmission line builders and Public Service Commission staff to test need for the 345 kV expansion transmission line with comprehensive, cost-benefit analysis. It asks that electric customers be shown the energy savings, emission reductions, and reliability benefits customers would receive if the total, 40 year costs of the new transmission line assumed by electric customers were spent, instead, on energy efficiency, modern load management and development of locally-serving renewable power resources.
Despite the misleading phrasing [4] made to the Grant County Board last month by Angela Jordon, a public relations employee of transmission builder ITC, none of the capital transmission expansion planning conducted by regional utility interests or the applicants since 2010 risks presenting this sensible comparison to ratepayers. The computations Jordon referenced have never tested by impartial, third party review and consider only potential benefits dependent on 17 transmission lines being built, electricity use inexplicably returning to pre 2005 levels and a host of major national and state policy changes being in place.
Proponents of the resolution before Grant County have stress that unlike the potential, razor-thin benefits from more expansion transmission lines, dollars directed to improved efficiencies and locally-serving renewable power produce guaranteed, maximized savings and CO2 emission reductions over time. The guarantees stem from transmission expansion causing rates to soar [5] and bettered efficiency/self-sufficiency slashing use of transported regional power averaging 74% fossil fuel generation in 2016 with only 8% generated by wind power. The renewable percentage has squeaked-up only 3 points since 2006 despite more than $6 billion invested in expansion transmission lines— including seven in Wisconsin [6].
SOUL of Wisconsin observes that environmental accountability rests in actual CO2 emission reductions which, in WI, have declined in proportion to declining electricity use [7]. While state law requires stringent, annual performance evaluation of the Focus on Energy program with its region low rebate allotments, state laws do not require any performance testing of transmission expansion lines with six in service begging to be examined.
Elected and appointed officals of the Village of Montfort, the towns of Wingville and Lima who volunteered countless hours to public education, are quick to point out that easy to understand, head to head comparisons as requested in the resolution were required by Wisconsin energy law before 1998 [8].
Residents of southwest and western Wisconsin, northeast Iowa, northern Illinois and southeast Minnesota should take heed of Resolve point 1(e) in the resolution asking applicants, “..in consideration of long-term, potential impacts of establishing 345 kV substation in or near Montfort,.. provide knowledge (even speculation) of future interests in constructing new 138 kV or larger transmission lines connecting with the 345 kV facility.” Applicant materials, thus far, describe no need for a city-scale, 40 acre substation other than vague interaction with the area’s self-standing low voltage grid. Concern about creating this 345 kV substation was founded on prior utility planning showing 345 and 765 kV lines crisscrossing the area intersecting with a substation in the vicinity of Montfort [9]. Concerns were dramatically elevated on February 20 when in response to questioning by County Board Supervisor Mark Stead, a representative of the transmission line builders would provide no assurances concerning interests in more larges, adding, “...anything is possible.[10]"
Municipalities and groups ask residents across the area to fill-up their cars with neighbors and pack the county board room with resolution supporters. The resolution is expected to be near the top of the agenda slated to begin at 10 am.
Immediately following the vote of the board, everyone is invited to stroll two blocks to the Copper Dome Sports Bar at 126 N Madison St. for food, conversation and news of other resolution efforts underway.
NOTES
1 Text as revised by Grant County Corporate Counsel and approved by the Administration Committee as of March 13, 2018: http://bit.ly/GrantRevResolution
2 See compiled chart of projects, bottom p. 2. State of Wisconsin's Lack of Energy Planning http://bit.ly/Stateof_WI_Lack_of_Energy_Planning
3 See map and lists: http://bit.ly/Resolutions-Map-List
4 See p. 6 transcription: http://bit.ly/GrantCo_20180220_Mtg-Transcript
5 See PSC quote and charts p.1, State of Wisconsin's Lack of Energy Planning http://bit.ly/Stateof_WI_Lack_of_Energy_Planning
6 See discussion of regional generation percentages with citations in article, “Towards reducing CO2 emissions related to electricity generation,” http://bit.ly/TowardsReducingCO2
7 U.S. Electric Power Industry Estimated Emissions for WI (source EIA-767, EIA-906, EIA-920, and EIA-923) CO2 totals from all electric generation sources show significant, year to year, fluctuation and slow progress. WI CO2 metric tons per year declined at the rate .2% per year from 2006 to 2015 which corresponds with a .16% per year decline in electricity use over the same years (Source EIA-861)
8 Advance Plan requirements for applicants and PSC staff were replaced by relaxed accountabilities in the Strategic Energy Assessment under ACT 204 in 1997.
9 See maps excerpted from the Regional Generation Outlet Study Phase I Executive Summary Report, on p. 10 of Village of Montfort’s presentation to Grant County board http://bit.ly/GrantCoBoardPacket_20171219
10 See p. 5 transcription: http://bit.ly/GrantCo_20180220_Mtg-Transcript .
Mar. 2 Dodgeville Energy Forum
STOP CHC
Harnessing Our Local
Energy Futures
Session I
Meeting Our Priorities with Household and Local Solutions
Michael McDermott
Bill Powers
Gary Radloff
Melissa Davis
Sondy Pope
Session II
Shortfalls in Transmission Review Process and Busting Utility Myths
Ross Astoria
Keryn Newman
Frank Jablonski
Bill Powers
Session III
Confronting the Harmful Land and Economic Impacts of Transmission Expansion
Mary Mauch
Marilyn Pedretti
Dave Clutter
Lila Zastrow & Dave Hendrickson
Jon Greendeer
Evening Speakers
Pat Raimer
Trustee, Village of Montfort, WI
Keryn Newman
StopPATH WV, Shepherdstown, WV
Participation, Politics, and Public Opinion
Dave Clutter
Driftless Area Land Conservancy, Dodgeville, WI
Protecting the Natural Habitats and Local Economies of the Driftless Area from Unnecessary Transmission Expansion
Bill Powers
Powers Engineering, San Diego, CA
Local-Based Energy Futures and the Obstacle of Transmission Expansion
Complete, Live Stream Recording with Discussion
Event Co-Hosts
Inter-Municipal Energy Planning Committee [IMEPC]
SOUL of Wisconsin
Event Organizing Team
Karen Carlock
Rob Danielson
Sally Leong
Michael McDermott
Monica Sella
Chuck Tennessen
Event Planning Assistance and Volunteers
Laurie Graney, Gary Cox, Frank Sandner, Kerry Beheler,
Richard Graney, Robin Schumacher, Katie McGrath, Nancy Bruins,
David Lucey, David Hess, John Wright, Betsy Deangelo, Jon Lund,
Terese Agnew and Keith Ashley-Wright
Event Co-Sponsors
Black Earth Creek Watershed Association
Citizens’ Climate Lobby of Iowa Co.
Crawford Stewardship Project
Coulee Region of Sierra Club
Driftless Defenders
Driftless Solar
80 Feet Is Enough
Family Farm Defenders
Prairie Solar Power & Light
Sacred Water Sacred Lans
Timmerman's Talents
Vermont Citizens Power Line Action Committee
Western Dane Preservation Campaign
Wisconsin Network For Peace, Justice & Sustainability
Arcadia Books
Baraboo Range Preservation
Bleu Mont Dairy
Citizens Steering Committee of Grant County
Community Rights US
Crossroads Coffeehouse
Driftless Area Land Conservancy
Reedsburg Area Concerned Citizens
Save the Hills Alliance
Sustain Iowa County
Uplands Cheese
Vermont Valley CSA
Wisconsin Farmers Union South Central
White Oak Savanna
The grid to nowhere
An argument against building giant transmission lines
BY MICHAEL LENEHAN
MARCH 1, 2018
HAPPENINGS
Energy Self-Reliant States Special Edition:
A Utility Video Parody
Citizens’ Climate Lobby
2018 Wisconsin State Conference
“Keepin’ On and Movin’ Out!”
Saturday, April 7,
10:15 am – 6 pm
Frame Memorial Presbyterian Church
1300 Main Street, Stevens Point, WI 54482
Event Page
Sustainable Madison Committee
Re-Power Madison
Monday, April 2
4:30, Room 357
Sustainable Energy Group, Madison's
consultantfor the 100%
renewable energy plan,
will report on timelines and plans.
Event Page
TENTH ANNUAL
WISCONSIN GRASSROOTS FESTIVAL
People Organizing for Solutions
Registration 8:00 / Event 9:00 To 4:45 pm
Wisconsin Heights High School
10173 US Highway 14 / Mazomanie, WI
Suggested $25 Donation / Lunch Included
Event Page
Citizens Climate Lobby
Richland County Chapter
Bob Lindmeier
Chief Meteorologist, WKOW-TV
Speaking on Climate Change
3:00 p.m.
Richland Center Senior Community Center
1050 N Orange St, Richland Center, WI
More Info
VERNON ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Saturday, March 24
Pancake Breakfast 8:00 a.m
Meeting 10:00 a.m
110 Saugstad Rd.
Westby, WI 54667
More Info
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