FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Chuck <\/strong>Tenneson<\/strong>, charles@driftlessconservancy.org<\/strong><\/a>, 608-930-3252<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
Sarah Eddy, <\/strong>seddy@elpc.org<\/strong><\/a>, 312-795-3710 <\/strong><\/p>\n
DODGEVILLE, Wis., Dec. 10, 2018 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c The draft environmental impact statement (EIS) released recently by the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) for the proposed Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line includes only a cursory review of non-transmission alternatives to the high-voltage line such as greater energy efficiency, local renewables, and energy storage, despite requirements in federal law that alternatives be considered thoroughly. The draft EIS admits that non-transmission alternatives, along with lower-voltage and underground alternatives, were \u00e2\u20ac\u0153not carried forward for detailed analysis.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
The proposed Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line in southwest Wisconsin would cut a swath through the state\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s scenic and ecologically unique Driftless Area. The cost of the project would be borne by electric ratepayers in Wisconsin and other states and energy experts have concluded that the new transmission line is not needed due to flattened demand for electricity in Wisconsin and recent advances in energy technology.<\/p>\n
The costs and environmental damage that would be created by the transmission line has sparked opposition and legal challenges from local grassroots citizens and conservation groups. Wisconsin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Dane and Iowa Counties voted to oppose the transmission line and have intervened in the Public Service Commission proceedings to fight the project.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think of putting a power line across the Grand Canyon, so why would we think of putting one through one of the most beautiful and unique landscapes in the Upper Midwest?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Said Dave Clutter, executive director of the Driftless Area Land Conservancy. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We have a national treasure in the Driftless Area, and we should treat it like one.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153RUS is required by federal law to \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcrigorously explore and objectively evaluate all reasonable alternatives\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 to proposed transmission lines like the Cardinal-Hickory Creek project,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Howard Learner, one of the Environmental Law and Policy Center attorneys representing DALC. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153RUS cannot simply look at different environmentally harmful routes for this huge transmission line and call it a day.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Iowa County residents have come together to adamantly oppose this unneeded high-voltage power line, which would irreversibly damage the landscape, ecology, and recreation economy we depend on,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Betsy D\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Angelo, a member of the Driftless Defenders\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 leadership team. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153There are alternatives that can improve our electric system without damaging the Driftless Area\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s most important natural areas.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The draft environmental impact statement for the Cardinal-Hickory Creek project ignores the reality of new technology that has improved energy efficiency and decreased the demand for electricity,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said David Meylor, chairman of the Western Dane Preservation Campaign, the Mount Horeb area citizens group formed to oppose the line. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Recent analyses of electric demand demonstrate that the expensive, invasive Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line project simply isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t needed.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The proposed Cardinal-Hickory Creek Transmission line will have a significant negative impact on fish and wildlife habitat and the management of public lands in Southwestern Wisconsin and in light of other energy alternatives should not be constructed,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d stated George Meyer, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.<\/p>\n
The proposed Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line would install towers of up to 175-feet along a 100-mile route that would affect sensitive natural areas and disrupt economic activity. The project could cost ratepayers more than $1 billion during the life of the project, including a profit margin for the transmission line\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s utility owners that is guaranteed by Wisconsin law.<\/p>\n
Legal counsel for the Driftless Area Land Conservancy will be reviewing the RUS\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s draft EIS in greater detail and will submit comprehensive public comments to the agency. Members of the public are strongly encouraged to submit comments before the deadline of Feb. 5, 2019.<\/p>\n
###<\/p>\n
Issued by: <\/strong><\/p>\n
Driftless Area Land Conservancy<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
Driftless Defenders<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
Environmental Law and Policy Center<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
Western Dane County Preservation Campaign<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Looks like a conflict, quacks like a conflict, but maybe it’s just a duck?\u00c2\u00a0 A duck following the money? ELPC in the news: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t fully do what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s required \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 which is to rigorously explore and objectively evaluate all reasonable …<\/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":[924,11,9,192],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cardinal-hickory-creek","category-news-coverage","category-nuts-bolts","category-rus-eis"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6583","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=6583"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6583\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6588,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6583\/revisions\/6588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6583"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6583"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6583"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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