Posted: 5/22/07
County commissioners learn of possible power line in area
By Charlie Warner
Argus news Editor
Electric demand will continue to grow by leaps and bounds during the next three decades, and utility companies in the Upper Midwest are being proactive about it.
Houston County Commissioners learned this during a presentation provided by Chuck Thompson of Dairyland Power Cooperative. Thompson gave an overview of a potential transmission line project that could have an impact on county residents during the May 15 county board meeting.
According to Thompson, studies show customer demand for electricity will grow by up to 6,000 megawatts by 2020 in Minnesota. Three massive transmission lines are being proposed in Minnesota to handle this demand. One of those lines will serve customers in southeast Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
Currently, the Rochester area draws about 300 megawatts from the system, while the La Crosse/Winona area, which includes Caledonia to the west and Sparta to the east, uses 500 megawatts.
Utilizing a large color map, Thompson explained the proposed line to serve the Rochester, Winona, La Crosse area will be routed south from the Twin Cities through Rochester and will cross into the Badger State from Goodhue, Winona, or possibly Houston County.
"We are just in the very initial stages of this project and want to get the information out to the public. There will only be one crossing of the Mississippi River, and crossing at Alma, Wis. looks like the best route," Thompson said. "We already have a large transmission line crossing there. But there are other options (Trempealeau, Winona, and possibly La Crescent). We have to notify everyone in the corridor, will be sending letters out, and holding public meetings."
Thompson went on to note the transmission line will be a 345,000 KV line, supported by steel poles measuring between 120 and 150 feet tall. The pricetag on the massive transmission line is between $1.5 million and $2 million per mile.
Thompson said the possibility of the line being located in Houston County is quite slim, but because there is a slight chance, people need to be notified.
The planning process will take two to three years and the construction phase will be another two years. According to Thompson, officials would like to have the new line up and functioning by 2012.
"We will be holding hearings in each county that might possibly be included in this project. Right now, Iím here just to notify you there is a chance it might be routed through the La Crescent area, which could affect a few Houston County residents," Thompson concluded.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com