Fiscal Note
City staff will work with other interested parties and intervene in PSC proceedings, if necessary, as part of their normal workload.
Title
Requesting the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin provide for a comprehensive, independent study of the proposed transmission lines and directing the City Attorney to intervene in any PSC proceedings involving transmission lines that impact the City of Madison.
Body
WHEREAS, the American Transmission Company (ATC) is proposing the construction of several transmission lines in Dane County in the next decade; and
WHEREAS, the proposed lines include a 345 kV line from Rockdale substation to the West Middleton substation, a 345 kV line from West Middleton substation to the North Madison substation, and a 138 kV line from West Middleton to the Blount Street substation; and
WHEREAS, these proposed lines could have significant impacts on neighborhoods and the environment in the City of Madison and elsewhere in the County; and
WHEREAS, the initial study to determine the need for these lines was funded by ATC, a fact not included in the report issued on the need for the lines; and
WHEREAS, there has been no comprehensive, independent study of the need for and cumulative impacts of the proposed transmission lines; and
WHEREAS, one proposed route for the Rockdale-West Middleton 345 kV line would follow the Beltline, placing poles of 100 feet or greater in the highway right-of-way near the Arboretum and wetlands, potentially restricting future Beltline expansion for transportation purposes, and having potentially deleterious impacts on redevelopment proposals on Madison neighborhoods;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Madison calls upon the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) to provide for a comprehensive, independent study of the need for and cumulative impacts of the proposed transmission lines, and not a piece-meal consideration of single lines; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Attorney is directed to intervene in any proceedings at the PSC involving transmission lines that may impact the City of Madison and, together with other City staff, attempt to mitigate impacts on the City of Madison; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that any review of the Rockdale-West Middleton Beltline option consider at least the following matters:
1. The disparate impact of this option on the City of Madison and exploration of alternatives such as undergrounding to reduce this impact.
2. This option will limit traffic alternatives, potentially causing much greater environmental impacts in the long term.
3. This option may impact many, many people who live, work and travel the Beltline every day.
4. This option will negatively affect corporate offices and redevelopment proposals.
5. This option will seriously impact sensitive environmental areas, including the world-renowned Arboretum.
6. This option will disparately affect low-income areas.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Madison staff shall work with other interested parties, including businesses, neighborhood associations, and other municipalities in Dane County to coordinate efforts for a thorough and comprehensive review of ATC's transmission proposals.