{"id":6441,"date":"2016-06-26T08:53:41","date_gmt":"2016-06-26T15:53:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/?p=6441"},"modified":"2016-06-27T09:53:23","modified_gmt":"2016-06-27T16:53:23","slug":"dairylands-q-1-in-the-news-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/?p=6441","title":{"rendered":"Dairyland’s Q-1 in the news today!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dairyland\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Q-1D South Environmental Assessment<\/a><\/h3>\n

Comments are due July 1, 2016 \u00e2\u20ac\u201d send to:<\/p>\n

USDA\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Dennis Rankin:\u00c2\u00a0 dennis.rankin@wdc.usda.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

(I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d also cc DPC\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Chuck Thompson:\u00c2\u00a0 cat@dairynet.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

By U.S. Mail:<\/p>\n

Dennis Rankin\r\n<\/strong>Environmental Protection Specialist\r\n<\/strong>USDA Rural Utilities Service\r\n<\/strong>1400 Independence Avenue S.W.\r\n<\/strong>Mailstop 1571, Room 2242\r\n<\/strong>Washington, DC\u00c2\u00a0 20250-1571<\/strong><\/pre>\n<\/blockquote>\n
In today’s La Crosse Tribune!\u00c2\u00a0 This is about as detailed an article as there is in today’s news — thanks for the digging, Chris Hubbuch:<\/p>\n
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Dairyland rules out alternatives for high-voltage rebuild<\/a><\/h3>\n
Dairyland Power Cooperative has completed an environmental study of its planned replacement of a high-voltage power line that runs through densely developed areas between Holmen and La Crosse.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
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Originally constructed in 1950 through farmland, the 161-kilovolt line known as Q-1D South now cuts through back yards and in some cases directly over homes that were built around and under the line as development pushed north along the Hwy. 35 and later Hwy. 53 corridors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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In an environmental assessment filed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the La Crosse-based utility argues the line has become unreliable \u00e2\u20ac\u201d it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s blamed for two sustained and five momentary outages between 2009 and 2014 \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and is critical to serving La Crosse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Dairyland plans to replace the existing H-frame wood structures with 95- to 115-foot steel poles and a larger conductor that will be capable of carrying more electricity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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The rebuilt line would cross as many as 14 dwellings that were constructed underneath the existing line. There are 42 dwellings and four businesses within the 80-foot right of way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Despite the concerns of residents who fear negative health and safety impacts from the high-capacity lines, Dairyland argues that alternative routes would be too costly and problematic, and that state codes prohibiting the construction of high-voltage lines over dwellings don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t apply to its rebuild plans.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\u00e2\u20ac\u0153In this case on our existing right of way we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re exempt,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Chuck Thompson, who is in charge of siting and regulation for Dairyland. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We can stay over those structures.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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The nine-mile segment is part of Dairyland\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 70-mile Q-1 line, which connects its coal-fired generators in Alma and Genoa to La Crosse. Dairyland has rebuilt the other segments during the past decade.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Dairyland plans to begin reconstruction of the final segment in September and have the new line electrified in early 2017. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s expected to cost about $11.9 million.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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The project has generated strong opposition from residents who live along the line. Dairyland received 45 public comments when the plans were revealed last summer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Ann Kathan and her family live in homes built within the right-of-way and have led the charge against the project. She argues the lines expose residents to harmful electronic and magnetic fields, which she fears will be worse with the new conductors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Kathan also contends that with coal-fired generators making up nearly 90 percent of Dairyland\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s generation assets, the company\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s long-term viability may be shaky.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Why would our community support the building of a line that will far outlive us when Dairyland will not?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she asks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Thompson said the rebuilt line should have lower EMF readings \u00e2\u20ac\u0153under normal load\u00e2\u20ac\u009d but concedes the new conductors will be capable of carrying more electricity, which would increase EMF.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Dairyland minimizes the health risks of EMF.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Epidemiological and toxicological studies have shown no statistically significant association or weak associations between EMF exposure and health risks,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the company wrote in its environmental assessment. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153While the general consensus is that EFs pose no risk to humans, the question of whether exposure to MFs can cause biological responses or health effects continues to be debated.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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No alternatives<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Residents along the line have called on Dairyland to consider an alternate route, but Dairyland argues that is impractical.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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The company decided against using one of its own 69-kv routes, arguing that would cost more than twice as much money, create new conflicts with residences and businesses, and result in an additional 17 structures exceeding airport height restrictions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Dairyland also ruled out using nearby Xcel Energy towers because running lines on the same poles would increase the chances of both going down at the same time and because the cooperative might be forced to buy out residences under the Xcel route.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Burying the line would cost more than $100 million, according to Dairyland\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s estimates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Dairyland also notes that rerouting its line would require permission from the state\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Public Service Commission, which could take up to five years and add to the project costs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Carol Overland, a Minnesota attorney who fought against two recent high-voltage transmission projects \u00e2\u20ac\u201d CapX2020 and Badger-Coulee \u00e2\u20ac\u201d says Dairyland is offering conflicting readings of the law in order to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153have it both ways,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d saying it is exempt from PSC regulations in some cases but subject to them in others.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s questionable,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153(But) who\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going to question it?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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She also contends Dairyland broke the Q1 project into segments \u00e2\u20ac\u201d in violation of the National Environmental Protection Act \u00e2\u20ac\u201d in order to avoid having to do a more in-depth environmental impact study.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Because Dairyland is replacing an existing line, the utility does not need state or federal approval for the project.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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But in order to receive low-interest financing through the USDA, Dairyland must submit an application to the Rural Utilities Service, which requires the environmental assessment. Public comments on that document are being accepted through Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Zoning changes<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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The only other hurdle for the project is height restrictions around the La Crosse Regional Airport.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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The existing ordinance limits the height of structures within three miles of the airport using a grid of 40- to 160-acre squares that climb like steps away from the runways. An aeronautical study is required for any proposed structure that would exceed that limit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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With more detailed geographical data provided by Dairyland, the new ordinance establishes higher height limits in a contour pattern \u00e2\u20ac\u201d more like a ramp.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Airport Director Clinton Torp said the new height restrictions more accurately follow FAA guidelines and will cut down on the number of permits and variances the city must consider for structures that exceed the height limit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Under the new ordinance, Dairyland estimates it will need variances for only three \u00e2\u20ac\u201d rather than 24 \u00e2\u20ac\u201d of its towers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Torp said once the city incorporates Dairyland\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s data into its GIS system, landowners and developers will be able to use an online map to see the exact height limit for any spot within the airport zoning district.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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A committee of the La Crosse Common Council is scheduled to consider the ordinance change July 5.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Kathan said Dairyland has used its financial power to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153side step\u00e2\u20ac\u009d local ordinances.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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\u00e2\u20ac\u0153How is it fair to the people of the city of La Crosse that the people with the most money and political influence don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have to comply with the laws. It changes the rules,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t Dairyland have to demonstrate a need and balance that against the public safety purpose of the ordinance?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
And a prior article on the Dairyland Q-1 D South line:<\/p>\n
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Residents worried by plans to rebuild transmission line, amp up capacity <\/a><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dairyland\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Q-1D South Environmental Assessment Comments are due July 1, 2016 \u00e2\u20ac\u201d send to: USDA\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Dennis Rankin:\u00c2\u00a0 dennis.rankin@wdc.usda.gov (I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d also cc DPC\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Chuck Thompson:\u00c2\u00a0 cat@dairynet.com) By U.S. Mail: Dennis Rankin Environmental Protection Specialist USDA Rural Utilities Service 1400 Independence Avenue …<\/span> Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[967,192,195],"tags":[1012,840,954,1013,671,964,953,879,31,1014,970,188,605],"class_list":["post-6441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-q-1-upgrade","category-rus-eis","category-wisconsin","tag-ann-kathan","tag-carol-a-overland","tag-chuck-thompson","tag-city-of-la-crosse","tag-dairyland-power-cooperative","tag-dennis-rankin","tag-dpc","tag-legalectric","tag-no-capx-2020","tag-no-cpax-2020","tag-q-1-d-south","tag-rural-utilities-service","tag-usda-rus"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6441"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6441\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6444,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6441\/revisions\/6444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}