Transmission Line resources

*** UPDATE 11/6 ***  It is confirmed that Dairyland is holding a public information meeting in Westby on Thursday, November 20, from 4-6pm at the Westby Community Center, 206 N Main Street, Westby, WI

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Many folks are concerned about a new high-capacity transmission line that has been proposed to cut through Crawford County.

The proposed route would follow an existing transmission corridor where currently a 161kv line runs on 70’ wooden poles with a 100’ clearing.  The new towers would be the largest transmission towers in Wisconsin, up to 200' tall with a 200' wide clearing beneath.  Some Crawford County landowners are concerned about this proposal for reasons including the visual impact, the additional seizure of private land, effect on property values, effect on tourism, and the towers' potential instability in our karst geology.  There is also some disagreement around whether the line needs to be built at all, whether it is justified by power demand, and if so, whether alternatives might be preferable and less costly for ratepayers.

Crawford Stewardship Project is not organizing in opposition/support of this proposed powerline.  CSP is advocating for Dairyland Power to be proactively communicating and treating our local communities as partners in decision-making, because these proposals would deeply affect us.  One of CSPs five core values is "Inclusivity: we trust that the best decisions are made with all stakeholders at the table, using good process to meet divisive issues with collaboration and teamwork."  Since our local communities are stakeholders, CSP is advocating for Dairyland to include our communities in the decision making.

CSP is hearing reports of utility representatives knocking on doors of properties along the proposed routes and offering $500 in exchange for signed permission to survey the property. Our understanding is that while it is somewhat unusual for utilities to offer money for this permission, that the survey work is not unusual because the utility has to have some design work completed before submitting their construction application to the Public Service Commission. If landowners refuse this permission the utility will fill in gaps using LiDAR data.

CSP has also heard that landowners refusing survey permission have been threatened with eminent domain. Our understanding is that this is premature and unusual...perhaps the utility is feeling-out the level of resistance they may encounter to this proposed possible route.

CSP is offering a few resources to help understand the proposal and how folks might most effectively channel any questions or concerns.

The October episode of our monthly podcast features a discussion with Rob Danielson. Rob is an affected landowner near LaFarge who has a deep understanding of the power industry and the process of how transmission lines get sited and approved. Rob offers us a 101-level introduction to the difference between transmission and distribution lines, and why these particular proposals are unlike anything seen in Wisconsin before. He questions the need for them at all, and talks about the most effective actions concerned landowners can take. Here is a transcript of the episode. Here is the map with question-marks referenced during the discussion.

In the podcast discussion, Rob suggests that concerned landowners take action by requesting more information from Dairyland Power directly, and/or by encouraging their township to make a formal resolution to request information from Dairyland. Here is a template for a township resolution that any town can use to request more information from Dairyland. Here is contact information for townships in Crawford County.

Here are two communications from Dairyland in July 2025 concerning the proposed MariBell route: a promotional flyer and a response to questions submitted by a local landowner.

Here is a map of some other potential routes.

Here is a handout Rob developed which contains further information.

If you are concerned about this proposed route and it's effect on you, or the area in general, CSP strongly urges you to:

1. Contact your township and ask them to pass a resolution requesting more information from Dairyland Power.

2. Contact Dairyland Power individually to request more detailed information. Reference the "MariBell Line proposal."

It is up to individual landowners to alert Dairyland Power to any impacts this massive infrastructure might have on the patchwork of small farms & communities in its shadow.