Marathon County Board agrees to begin negotiations for land access

for transmission line project

WAUKESHA, Wis. – American Transmission Company officials today applauded the Marathon County Board for its vote authorizing negotiations for transmission line easements on county-owned property, where part of the Arrowhead-Weston power line will be built.

“This is an encouraging step forward,” said Mark Williamson, vice president of major projects for ATC. “We can now begin thoughtful discussions with Marathon County based on the facts over access, environmental protections, fair payments, and, ultimately, building this critical piece of electric infrastructure for this community and all of Wisconsin.”

Today, the board voted to allow negotiations to begin for an approximate 1.5-mile easement in the Nine Mile Recreation Area. Williamson said the decision is a step in the right direction for the citizens of Marathon County. “Building the power line on the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin-approved route on county-owned land will lessen the impact on private landowners,” Williamson said.

Nearly 80 percent of the 221-mile Arrowhead-Weston project will be constructed on existing rights-of-way (transmission lines, gas pipelines, railroads or highways) from Wausau to Duluth. The line will cross the property of about 850 landowners, who will be compensated for the use of their land based on fair-market value. Counties and other local municipalities through which the line will pass will receive one-time environmental and annual impact payments. The project will improve electric reliability and security for all electricity users in Wisconsin.

Construction has begun on the western end of the line in Minnesota, and successful negotiations with private landowners in Marathon County have resulted in securing more than 40 easements.

“We are making progress and getting closer to being able to assist in our state’s economic recovery, future economic development and keeping the lights on.” Williamson said.

ATC plans, constructs, operates, maintains and will expand its transmission facilities to provide adequate and reliable transmission of power. ATC provides nondiscriminatory service to all customers, supporting effective competition in energy markets without favoring any market participant. A member of the Midwest ISO regional transmission organization, ATC owns more than 8,900 miles of transmission lines with a total investment of approximately $880 million in transmission facilities in portions of Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois. For more information, visit our Web sites at www.atcllc.com and www.arrowhead-weston.com.

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