DRIFTLESS - One virtual meeting remains for property owners potentially impacted by the proposed Maribell and BECI 765 kV transmission lines to help identify karst features along the proposed transmission line route
Forest Jahnke of Crawford Stewardship Project will provide a short introduction to karst-related phenomena, vocabulary and location identification, before opening up for landowner questions and discussion. Landowner photographs may be screen-shared for identification, or sent to Forest in advance at forest@crawfordstewardship.org
- Thursday evening, September 10, 6:30 p.m.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85058188110?pwd=2cgpN4JJaUlvXR5ZVxV0YicdznGpoz.1
Larry Long video
On Wednesday, October 7, from 6 to 8 p.m., Larry Long, Dan Sebranek, Mary Cortesi, Raldo Schneider, Brett Huus, and others will be filming and recording ‘Want Nothing To Do With Line 765’ at Leo & Leona's in Bangor, with local family farmers, neighbors, and friends in the Driftless.
Please join the choir in opposition to the construction of these twenty-story-tall-powerlines (MariBell and BECI) running straight through the heartland of the Mississippi River Flyway and organic valleys of the Driftless with 800,000 volts of electrical current to feed AI-Data Centers hundreds of miles away from the land and people we love.
"The projected crossing impacts a grove of 100-year-old black walnut trees. The existing powerline that skims the area did not cut trees on our property probably because of the value of this grove of trees. The hollow that this crossing would impact is known historically as ‘Old Still Hollow.’ River men and railroad men would travel west on Old Highway 171 to the hollow, just two miles up from the Mississippi and purchase moonshine from the local peddlers in the Hollow. Parts of the still are still present there,” Long explained.
“We moved to the Driftless and purchased this land to live in a natural setting, with the quiet and darkness of the hills. A huge powerline crossing our horizon will totally defeat the whole reason for living here,” Jacqueline Long stated.
The song
I live in the Driftless; land of the free
The song
Down in the valley beside a cold water spring;
With brown and brook trout and black walnut trees.
This land I’ll defend with my life if need be.
(Chorus)
Want nothing to do with your high voltage powerline.
Want nothing to do with Line 765.
Your Data Centers ain’t no friend of mine.
Want nothing to do with your high voltage powerline.
My fathers own father he worked this land;
The same as my children, wife and I, too, have.
The roots of our family run deep in the soil
On this family farm built with love, sweat, and toil.
(Chorus)
Down in the wetlands white wings in flight.
Hoot Owl is calling beneath the moonlight.
Who are these people with a license to kill;
This land that we love with their concrete and steel.
(Chorus)
They lie about the cost. They lie about the need.
Their gain is our loss. Their profits guaranteed.
We are the people, sick and tired of their greed.
This land we’ll defend with our lives if need be.
(Chorus)
- Words & music by Larry Long
Leo & Leona’s |Newberg Corners, W1436 WI-33, Bangor, WI 54614
Understand science
A public information forum regarding the MariBell and BECI 765 kV transmission lines is planned for Thursday, Sept. 17, from 6-7:30 p.m., at a location to be announced soon. The event is sponsored by Coalition Against Maribel 765, Inc. (CAM765).
The topic of the forum will be ‘Understanding the Science,’ and will feature Theodora Scarato, director of the Wireless and EMF Program at Environmental Health Sciences. She is a nationally recognized expert in environmental health policy related to cell towers, wireless radiation, power lines, and electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
According to CAM765, participants should attend to learn more about electro-magnetic fields, stray voltage, government policy, industry-funded studies, independently funded scientific studies on the impact of EMFs to human health, and impacts to cattle, bees, pollinators, and birds.
Opposition update
Opposition has exploded in Richland, Sauk and Columbia counties. This is unsurprising given the short time that was available between when landowners received letters from BECI developer Midcontinent Grid Solutions (MGS) in August and their September 7 deadline to submit comments on the proposed route.
Richland County Board Chairman Karry Severson released a memo stating: “The BECI transmission line threatens our community on a scale that we may not have experienced previously.”
Severson said Richland County is evaluating the possibility of becoming an intervenor in the permit approval process with the Public Service Commission (PSC).
He pointed out that so far, the county has submitted two information requests to the developer in order to obtain more facts and information. The deadline for the developer to respond to the request sent in August is September 14.
Severson said Richland County is evaluating whether to join with other counties impacted by the BECI line, and is also developing an opposition resolution.
The Richland Center City Council also adopted a resolution expressing significant concerns regarding the line. Through the resolution, the city is officially requesting the PSC takes several key precautionary steps before moving forward. Specifically, they ask for timely notice of all proceedings, to give full consideration to alternative routing and design options such as undergrounding or co-location, and require a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement that evaluates the cumulative effects of both the proposed BECI project, and the nearby MariBell project.
The city also requested a thorough aviation review due to potential hazards the transmission line towers could pose to Richland Center Municipal Airport and regional, low-altitude agricultural flights.
The city council has authorized the mayor and city administrator to petition for formal intervenor status once the official application is filed with PSC.
Sauk County
Sauk County Board Chairperson Tim McCumber published a press release calling on MGS to “fundamentally re-think the BECI Project and develop a route that respects Sauk County’s longstanding commitment to protecting its scenic landscapes, agricultural lands, natural resources, and tourism economy.”
McCumber pointed out that his county’s tourism economy is one of the largest in Wisconsin, with $1.65 billion in direct visitor spending, supporting 11,900 jobs, approximately $333.5 million in labor income, and approximately $150.7 million in state and local revenue. He said Sauk County is ranked second in the state, with Milwaukee County first.
“I respectfully ask that the project evaluate the use of previously established rights-of-ways and other corridors in accordance with state statute,” McCumber said, “while also respecting the well-established policies already protecting this region.”
The school districts of Baraboo and Sauk Prairie have both taken action to question or oppose the proposed route of the proposed transmission line. Baraboo expressly voiced objection to siting the line anywhere near one of their schools.
Sauk Prairie unanimously adopted an opposition resolution on August 24, stating the proposed route runs through schools and outdoor education properties.
In addition, Friends of the Great Sauk State Trail shared their concerns about the proposed route with MGS. They state the trail is a vital resource to Sauk County, benefiting residents and guests with multi-modal recreation, and supporting health and well-being.
Last, the allegation has been made that the proposed line would constitute a “dangerous Sauk Prairie Airport airspace incursion.” Line opponents point out that the towers are expected to be 200-feet tall, and the airport runways have a decision altitude of 428 feet, and the FAA requires 295 feet of clearance above any obstacle on approach. The say this constitutes an incursion of 133 feet.
Other counties
Columbia County is the location of the Columbia Substation, and also of the Arlington Agricultural Research Station. Arlington was the location of the second ‘On the line. On the record’ town hall where politicians and candidates were invited to come answer questions – similar to the one held recently at the Retreat Sportsman’s Club.
In the county, towns, cities and the Sauk County Board are working on resolutions while also encouraging potentially impacted landowners to submit feedback by the September 7 deadline.
The Lodi School District has taken formal action regarding the proposed BECI routing.
Jefferson County residents were able to provide feedback about the line to their county board. Those citizens are advocating for the board to join other counties in hiring a lawyer and opposing the line as a united front.
In Walworth County, the Elkhorn School Board passed a resolution opposing the line.
Politicians
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is directing concerned citizens to providing feedback to the PSC once the applications are filed.
Wisconsin State Senator Brad Pfaff and State Representative Tara Johnson have a bill that would change state transmission line siting priorities to existing highway and railroad right-of-ways, and require undergrounding where feasible. Both have made statements opposing running the line through farms and yards.
Wisconsin State Senator Howard Marklein, and his election opponent State Representative Jenna Jacobsen have both gone on record as opposing the proposed route of the line, as has State Representative Travis Tranel, who shares Pfaff and Johnson’s view that the line should not be run through farms and yards.
Wisconsin State Senator Sarah Keyeski has already signed on to the bill proposed by Senator Pfaff, and has expressed opposition to siting the line in a way that it would run through farms and yards.
State Representative Tony Kurtz has circulated a letter stating he is “adamantly opposed to the current routes being proposed.”
State Representative Maureen McCarville, representing potentially impacted landowners in Sauk and Columbia County has stated her opposition to the route being proposed for the line.
In Walworth County, State Representative Tyler August announced his opposition to the proposed project.
