Citizen Coalition Asks PSC to Revoke Completeness Determination for ATC's Transmission Project
Wisconsin Eagle/10344374

PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. - WisconsinEagle -- The Responsible Energy Alliance ("REA"), a local citizen alliance, filed a petition with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin ("PSC") Wednesday asking the PSC to revoke its Dec. 15, 2025, determination that American Transmission Company's ("ATC") application for the Ozaukee County Distribution Interconnection Project (Docket No. 137-CE-221) is complete. The project seeks to build new transmission lines through pristine greenfield areas in Ozaukee and Washington counties, to transmit massive amounts of electrical power to the new AI data center being built in Port Washington.

In its filing, REA points to more than 560 application amendments and 168 staff data-request responses that ATC has filed since the PSC's completeness determination — including the late addition of temporary bypass transmission lines that PSC staff have testified is unprecedented in their experience. REA argues the scale, pace, and piecemeal nature of these changes has made it impossible for PSC staff, intervenors, and the public to meaningfully evaluate the project within the statutory timeframes governing this proceeding.

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REA's petition renews its central objection to ATC's proposed routing: The PSC is asked to revoke completeness — or, in the alternative, to order ATC to withdraw the greenfield South Preferred and South Preferred-Contingent routes — because ATC has never justified building new transmission lines through greenfield areas of Ozaukee and Washington counties when an existing utility corridor, the South Alternate Route, remains available and buildable.

REA argues that Wisconsin law dictates existing utility corridors must be used whenever feasible. The existing corridor route is also publicly favored by Vantage Data Centers, the project's sole customer, and recommended by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The DATCP position supports the South Alternate Route due to its lesser lower impact on prime agricultural land, a position supported by most local impacted communities, including Fredonia, Saukville, Farmington, and Trenton, as well as Ozaukee and Washington counties.

The petition further highlights unresolved gaps in ATC's cultural resources and environmental review of the greenfield routes. These encompass unaddressed Section 106 obligations concerning local Native American effigy mound sites and insufficient time allowed for endangered species surveys, as well as significant, previously-unidentified cost discrepancies in ATC's comparative analysis of the route options.

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Other intervening parties, including local land trust Restoring Lands, have filed documentation supporting REA's motion, underscoring the breadth of opposition among the organizations and communities most directly affected by ATC's proposed greenfield routing.

"It has now become clear that ATC's Application is not complete and never was," said attorney Erik Olsen, whose Eminent Domain Services, LLC, law firm, based in Madison, represents the Responsible Energy Alliance. "A lot of unnecessary confusion has arisen from ATC's constant changes in what is being proposed. A new application, and a new timeline, is needed in view of the high stakes involved in this construction project, which could cause tremendous harm to natural and cultural resources in the area and many local landowners if the line is not constructed along existing transmission line corridors. The legislature decided that transmission lines should follow existing transmission line corridors so, if they are going to build it at all, the application should adhere to existing transmission line corridors."

REA has asked the Commission to consider its petition on an expedited basis, given the current schedule for rebuttal testimony and the hearing set for Aug. 25–28, 2026.

This remains an ongoing matter and developing story. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.