Western Wisconsin Transmission Connection
Project Overview
Xcel Energy is proposing to build a new 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission line to serve communities throughout western Wisconsin. The new transmission line will help ensure regional electric reliability and increase access to new renewable energy being developed in the Upper Midwest.
High-voltage transmission projects like Western Wisconsin Transmission Connection that link to local substations will help deliver energy to customers as they need it as plants retire and renewable energy from longer distances serve Wisconsin energy users. The project is part of a series of other projects that will work together to form the expanded regional grid upon which all of us depend. These projects, and others proposed in Minnesota and to the west, will help meet the region’s changing energy needs, including maintaining reliability as older plants are retired, resilience in the face of extreme weather, and delivering new renewable energy to customers throughout the Upper Midwest.
Project Resources
Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) Fact Sheet (Opens in a new window) Construction Process (Opens in a new window) Transmission Connection (Opens in a new window) Overhead vs. Underground (Opens in a new window) About Transmission (PDF) (Opens in a new window) Birds and Powerlines (PDF) (Opens in a new window) Safety Around Powerlines (PDF) (Opens in a new window)Project Details
- As much as possible, Xcel Energy expects to propose using existing transmission line corridors to lessen the impact of the new infrastructure on landowners and communities. In some cases, we will replace existing ‘single circuit’ transmission lines with new ‘double circuit’ poles that include the existing and new transmission lines.
- Our current plan is to file a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in mid-2024.
- Our current plan is to file a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in mid-2024.
Typical Structures
Steel Monopole
Project Timeline
- Landowner and local government engagement, including public open houses : 2023
- Landowner and local government engagement, including public open houses : 2023 - 2024
- Begin developing Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) application : 2023 - 2024
- File CPCN application with PSCW : 2024
- PSCW reviews CPCN application, including public hearing: 2024 - 2025
- PSCW route decision expected : 2025
- Landowner negotiations and easement procurement : 2025 - 2026
- Landowner negotiations and easement procurement : 2025 - 2026
- Construction : 2026 -2027
- Project complete: 2027 - 2028