Crawford Stewardship Project

High Voltage Powerline Letter

February 18, 2011

Hi Supporters--We signed on to this letter to the editor on the high voltage powerline issue. We at CSP recognize that local control and environmental and rural social justice issues are an important part of our mission. While we will not be doing direct work on this issue, we support the efforts of the citizens to research and organize around this powerline proposal coming through our region.

Edie Ehlert, CSP Coordinator

Letter to the Editor

Residents and officials of Vernon County are justifiably concerned about the negative economic and ecological impacts of the proposed high-voltage power line. American Transmission Company’s (ATC) planned “Badger Coulee Transmission Line” would be an extension from La Crosse to Madison of the controversial CapX2020 project. The county’s existing lower voltage lines fall neatly in the geographical center of this path. Adjoining western Wisconsin counties, which share in the economic profits of our scenic region’s tourism, would also be affected by the potential siting of giant 150 foot towers, coursing through the Westby and Viroqua Areas on to La Farge and the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, and passing on near Hillsboro. ATC says it will announce its actual chosen route this summer.

The multiple billion dollar project would be funded directly by utility rate-payers (that means you and me). Any benefit would go to the power companies for providing energy transport and to urban areas that purportedly need more energy, not to the rural areas through which the power lines would run. The high-voltage line’s unsightly alteration of the landscape would decrease property values, a perennial concern for homeowners and local governments. Furthermore, discerning Minnesotans and fellow Wisconsinites to our area’s north have concluded that the massive expanded transmission corridor is not supported by a regional need for power. It seems that ATC would profit while local people would incur the project’s costs as well as a diminished quality of life.

Vernon County’s Town of Stark has commissioned a committee to study and report on the proposed project. This capable group intends to share its information with the greater local community. Now is the time to learn about this dubious proposal, to seek answers from ATC, and to voice concerns to the Public Service Commission and our state elected representatives.

We advocate for reducing energy usage through energy efficiency measures. We do not support an expensive project to accommodate wasteful energy usage practices. On average, we waste 30% of our energy in the U.S. The utility companies ought to invest in energy efficiency programs rather than in massive power lines, a shift that would create local jobs and truly benefit local rate-payers. We issue a resounding “No Thanks” to the proposed “Badger Coulee Transmission Line”.

Sara Martinez
Valley Stewardship Network

Edie Ehlert
Crawford Stewardship Project

Jess Leinberger
E3 Coalition

			Crawford Stewardship Project works to protect the environment of Crawford County from threats such as those posed by concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and to promote sustainable land use, local control of natural resources, and environmental justice. Crawford Stewardship Project is a nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible. Support CSP Send a check to: Crawford Stewardship Project P.O. Box 284 Gays Mills, WI 54631 csp.county@gmail.com
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	Ongoing Projects Sand Mining Crawford County CAFOs Water Quality and CAFO Monitoring Karst Geology Sustain Rural Wisconsin Network-SRWN Livestock Siting Law & State CAFO Permitting Crawford Stewardship Project is grateful for the generous support of the Wisconsin Community Fund. Thank you to Organic Valley for their generous contribution to our silent auction in February 2013. Order your Driftless Wisconsin poster today! "CAFOs are only profitable because so much of the cost and damage is externalized onto the environment, neighbors and wildlife. The monitoring, supervision, clean-up, restitution, fines are not happening, thus the true cost of CAFOs never find the way onto the balance books." Talking point from the CAFO Conference.	High Voltage Powerline Letter February 18, 2011 Hi Supporters--We signed on to this letter to the editor on the high voltage powerline issue. We at CSP recognize that local control and environmental and rural social justice issues are an important part of our mission. While we will not be doing direct work on this issue, we support the efforts of the citizens to research and organize around this powerline proposal coming through our region. Edie Ehlert, CSP Coordinator Letter to the Editor Residents and officials of Vernon County are justifiably concerned about the negative economic and ecological impacts of the proposed high-voltage power line. American Transmission Company’s (ATC) planned “Badger Coulee Transmission Line” would be an extension from La Crosse to Madison of the controversial CapX2020 project. The county’s existing lower voltage lines fall neatly in the geographical center of this path. Adjoining western Wisconsin counties, which share in the economic profits of our scenic region’s tourism, would also be affected by the potential siting of giant 150 foot towers, coursing through the Westby and Viroqua Areas on to La Farge and the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, and passing on near Hillsboro. ATC says it will announce its actual chosen route this summer. The multiple billion dollar project would be funded directly by utility rate-payers (that means you and me). Any benefit would go to the power companies for providing energy transport and to urban areas that purportedly need more energy, not to the rural areas through which the power lines would run. The high-voltage line’s unsightly alteration of the landscape would decrease property values, a perennial concern for homeowners and local governments. Furthermore, discerning Minnesotans and fellow Wisconsinites to our area’s north have concluded that the massive expanded transmission corridor is not supported by a regional need for power. It seems that ATC would profit while local people would incur the project’s costs as well as a diminished quality of life. Vernon County’s Town of Stark has commissioned a committee to study and report on the proposed project. This capable group intends to share its information with the greater local community. Now is the time to learn about this dubious proposal, to seek answers from ATC, and to voice concerns to the Public Service Commission and our state elected representatives. We advocate for reducing energy usage through energy efficiency measures. We do not support an expensive project to accommodate wasteful energy usage practices. On average, we waste 30% of our energy in the U.S. The utility companies ought to invest in energy efficiency programs rather than in massive power lines, a shift that would create local jobs and truly benefit local rate-payers. We issue a resounding “No Thanks” to the proposed “Badger Coulee Transmission Line”. Sara Martinez Valley Stewardship Network Edie Ehlert Crawford Stewardship Project Jess Leinberger E3 Coalition