New Citizen Alliance Emerges to Oppose Controversial Data Center Power Lines Proposal
Wisconsin Eagle/10322787

PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. - WisconsinEagle -- Two local citizen coalitions have allied strategically to collaborate and coordinate their efforts against a proposed extra high-voltage transmission line routing sought by American Transmission Company (ATC).

The new "Responsible Energy Alliance" is comprised of Advocates for Responsible Power, based in Saukville and Trenton, and the Protect Fredonia Coalition, based in Fredonia and Farmington. The two citizens organizations will coordinate legal and other strategies opposing the route supported by ATC to transmit massive amounts of power to a proposed, highly controversial $15 billion mega data center in Port Washington, which is expected to be one of the largest data centers in the world.

Two routes have been proposed for the lines: one using mostly existing utility right-of-way corridors, and a second (supported and recommended by ATC) cutting through a pristine and largely rural part of Wisconsin that harbors precious environmental and cultural resources.

The transmission lines proposed by ATC would service an AI data center to be operated by Denver-based Vantage Data Centers. The center's end users are Oracle and Open AI, as part of their Stargate project. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW), following a lengthy review and public comment period, will select the final route.

The Responsible Energy Alliance was born out of shared beliefs by its two member organizations. Partnering their efforts is the most effective means to counteract the power line route's existential threat to the natural beauty and quality of life in western Ozaukee and eastern Washington counties.

"We have united our efforts in view of the vast public outcry against this project, which threatens to destroy the communities that we love and nurture," said Patti Plough, a local pastor and entrepreneur who leads the Protect Fredonia Coalition (https://www.protectfredonia.com/). "Both coalitions believe it is vitally important to combine forces and stand together, to stop this ill-advised and irresponsible action sought by ATC. We believe the proposed routing of the power lines through our communities is contrary to well-established principles of Wisconsin law, which require prioritizing existing utility corridors for these types of projects, to minimize damage to natural resources and communities. An existing utility corridor lies east of the ATC-recommended routing but has only been identified as an alternate or backup option."

The route recommended by ATC would harm an abundance of community and natural resources: a section of the Milwaukee River corridor containing forests, meadows, prairies, and wetlands, rich agricultural land, critical wildlife habitat supporting threatened or endangered species, nationally important historic and Native American cultural assets, and many valuable residential properties and small businesses (including dairy farms).

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The proposed power line corridor traverses lands supported by locally- and state-funded conservation initiatives established to protect and restore vital water resources, wetlands and natural habitats. These include the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, Greenseams Program, and the Conservation Fund. Locating high-voltage power infrastructure within these protected areas runs counter to public investment and conservation purposes these programs are intended to uphold.

Given its potential for devastating environmental, community, and economic damage, the route supported by ATC has ignited a groundswell of citizen opposition.

"We will not permit this to occur," said Steve Holland, a local businessman and a leader of  Advocates for Responsible Power (https://www.uglypowerlines.com/). "We are determined to stop this outright destruction of our valuable local assets. In the face of widespread public opposition, ATC has proceeded to recommend a western routing of these power lines that will destroy some of the most valuable and important natural and other resources in this part of the state. This simply cannot be allowed to move forward. We are committed to mounting a major legal challenge to this project."

Advocates for Responsible Power and the Protect Fredonia Coalition have already filed notices of intervention in the proceeding before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. The PSCW will decide final routing of the power lines based on two options presented by ATC, a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, which also owns We Energies, the Wisconsin gas and electric utility.

Separately, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL), an organization whose mission is to advance the public interest in the rule of law, individual liberty, constitutional government, and a robust civil society, intends to act. WILL has publicly stated it will legally challenge, on behalf of a local landowner and artist, the use of eminent domain power for a project such as this, which effectively serves a single private entity purpose end user.

Restoring Lands (formerly Ozaukee-Washington Land Trust) is also adding its name to the list of growing opposition to ATC's proposed preferred power line route through Saukville and Fredonia. Restoring Lands has urged the company to instead pursue its eastern alternate route along existing utility corridors to better align with longstanding environmental protections. Restoring Lands—responsible for protecting over 7,500 acres, including beloved preserves like Lion's Den Gorge and Sauk Creek—warns that ATC's preferred route for the power lines would irreversibly damage permanently conserved lands and water resources.

"We oppose ATC's attempt to place 180-foot towers and 250-foot utility corridors across landscapes our community has intentionally conserved for the enjoyment and benefit of all," said Tom Stolp, Executive Director of Restoring Lands. "Respecting permanently conserved lands set aside for future generations, and instead using existing utility corridors in the eastern alternative routing, is the only responsible path forward. Restoring Lands is prepared to vigorously defend the integrity of our conserved lands."

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Port Washington Mayor Ted Nietzke IV, and the city's Common Council, have issued a proclamation opposing the ATC-recommended routing, and a letter urging the PSCW to select the alternate route. These measures support running the transmission lines along existing utility corridors in an area east of the disputed routing path, in order to mitigate significant damage to this special area.

In a letter to the PSCW, Nietzke explained Port Washington's official support for the alternate route: "I drove the proposed routes and looked at the power routing in more detail. I reviewed state statute and educated myself on the NERC standards and discussed the recommendations with members of the ATC staff. I found that there are two options for you to choose from, and I am asking you, in my capacity as mayor of Port Washington, to please choose the alternative route. I understand from my meeting with representatives of the ATC that there are significant easement needs and a potential increase in costs for the alternative route. However, the alternative route uses existing lines and infrastructure in our immediate region and preserves areas of our county that are relatively undisturbed by utilities. The preferred option, as presented, would be unsightly, disrupt preserved environmental corridors, and impact dairy farms. The preferred route impacts some of the most pristine and rural areas of our county and I do not want that area to be impacted. The alternative route uses existing lines, almost entirely, and I would prefer this route."

Four towns heavily impacted by the ATC-supported route - Fredonia, Farmington, Saukville, and Trenton - have each adopted resolutions opposing the routing of these power lines through their respective communities. The towns all communicated their positions to ATC before it filed its recommendation.

The citizen coalitions and Restoring Lands, along with leaders from the impacted towns, recently met with Vantage Data Centers, the developer and operator of the data center. They implored the company to add its voice to growing opposition to the proposed power line routing. Vantage Data Centers has not responded to this request, according to the citizen alliance.

Wisconsin's currently approved data center projects may consume more energy than all households in the state combined, according to an analysis from Clean Wisconsin, an environmental advocacy organization. The analysis combined energy use estimates provided for Microsoft's data center in Mount Pleasant and the Vantage data center in Port Washington. Together, the two projects total 3.9 gigawatts of power, or enough to power 4.3 million Wisconsin homes, according to the report.

Citizens interested in tracking this rapidly-developing situation – which holds potentially dire consequences for western Ozaukee County and eastern Washington County – can stay abreast by following the Facebook page for Protect Fredonia Coalition.

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For information about Advocates for Responsible Power, contact: Steve Holland, misterholland@charter.net

For information about the Protect Fredonia Coalition, contact: Patti Plough, protectfredoniacoalition@gmail.com

For information about the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, contact: Pat@will-law.org.