— While environmental groups consider appealing a judge’s decision in favor of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line, advocates are applauding it as a big step forward for the controversial project.
The transmission line project, which involves American Transmission Company, Dairyland Power Cooperative and ITC Midwest, would span more than 100 miles between southern Wisconsin and Iowa. Its total cost is now expected to exceed $500 million, with the utilities last year pointing to higher material prices and costs linked to multiple legal challenges to the project.
In a recent decision, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jacob Frost affirmed the state Public Service Commission’s choice to grant a certificate of public convenience and necessity to the utilities for constructing the transmission line.
“This Court understands and respects the massive impacts a major project of this nature holds for the State and the serious concerns its opponents raise,” Frost wrote. “However, applying the legal standards, the PSC properly conducted itself in granting the CPCN at issue.”
In response to Frost’s decision, Environmental Law & Policy Center Senior Attorney Brad Klein said “we are carefully reviewing the judge’s decision and considering next steps,” including appealing on behalf of the Driftless Area Land Conservancy and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.
DALC Executive Director Jennifer Filipiak slammed the PSC approval process as flawed, charging the state agency with failing to “fully and fairly consider less damaging alternatives” to the current proposed route, which opponents say would cause significant ecological harm.
Meanwhile, supporters of the project who say it’s necessary for expanding renewable energy in the region are hailing the decision as a “huge win.” The Clean Grid Alliance, Fresh Energy and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy say the line’s completion will enable the connection of 115 renewable generation projects across six states.
According to a release from these groups, nearly 20 gigawatts of renewable energy production is “relying on Cardinal-Hickory Creek” being finished — enough to power about 15 million homes.
In a statement on the decision, Clean Grid Alliance Executive Director Beth Soholt said the clean energy transition can’t happen without “more transmission, and lots of it.”
“Every delay cost ratepayers more money and having Cardinal-Hickory Creek delayed for more than a decade has resulted in operating limits on existing wind farms, extreme congestion, and curtailments,” Soholt said.
Still, Klein notes this decision in Wisconsin doesn’t impact an earlier federal district court decision challenging federal agencies’ approval of the project.
“That decision is currently on appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and will determine whether this huge transmission line can be completed along the company’s proposed route running through the protected Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge,” Klein said in a release.
See the release from advocates: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/clean-grid-alliance-clean-energy-organizations-celebrate-the-state-court-approval-of-the-cardinal-hickory-creek-transmission-line/
See the release from environmental groups: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/conservation-groups-reaction-to-dane-county-circuit-court-decision-upholding-public-service-commissions-approval-of-cardinal-hickory-creek-transmission-line/
See the judge’s decision: https://www.wisbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CHC.State-Court.Circuit-Court-DECISION-and-ORDER-extending-time-for-decision.Doc-1278.May-8.2023.pdf
— Economic development officials in Sheboygan County have broken ground on a new subdivision project aimed at “entry-level” homebuyers.
The Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation is working with city officials in Sheboygan Falls and other partners to support the construction of 54 single-family homes in the $230,000-$250,000 price range.
The project is backed by a $10 million community development investment called the Forward Fund, which was established by the county and business partners including Johnsonville LLC, Kohler Co., Masters Gallery Foods and Sargento Foods. It’s part of the SCEDC’s Housing Initiative, which has a goal of building 600 single-family homes in Sheboygan County over the next five years.
See the release: http://www.sheboygancountyedc.com/news/press-releases-and-columns/founders-pointe
— Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez is slamming Republicans for stripping hundreds of millions of dollars for nurses and the rest of the health care system from Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal.
The former ER nurse and health care executive at a news conference yesterday outside the Capitol touted Evers’ over $100 million proposal for health care workers in the Workforce Innovation Grant program. She also touted his $50 million for nurse education, the family caregiver program and others. Rodriguez also ripped Republicans’ decision to eliminate BadgerCare expansion, a health care program she said helped her father, a Vietnam veteran who was a dementia patient.
“And anybody who knows of somebody taking care of someone with dementia; it can strip your family budget quite quickly,” she said. “And at the end of his life, this man was on BadgerCare. These are the types of people that we cover in the state of Wisconsin, and I know Wisconsinites want to take care of their own.”
She added Republicans’ move was “disappointing, particularly when we have a $7 billion surplus.”
Service Employees International Union President Pat Raes said Evers’ proposals would have helped resolve workforce shortage issues in the health care industry.
“We have reached the silver tsunami here in Wisconsin and there are now more than 1.4 million Wisconsinites older than 60 years old, and that number is skyrocketing,” Raes said. “Wisconsin is facing a shortage of over 20,000 nurses by 2035. Let’s put that in perspective. That’s 12 years away from now.”
She urged lawmakers to protect state matching funds for a trauma and recovery program, increase funds for nursing home and home care workers, and create guardrails to ensure nursing home and home care funding goes to workers, not corporate executives.
“The health of you, your loved ones and your neighbors should be a nonpartisan priority for every elected official,” she said. “All Wisconsinites need safe, quality care. And in order to deliver, we must retain, recruit and develop a sustainable health care workforce in every community.”
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report…</b></i>
— Wisconsin specialists are leading the field of neurotrauma research, which aims to improve care for patients with brain and spinal cord injuries.
<i>For more of the most relevant news on COVID-19, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.</i>
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— WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes will be the featured guest at a WisPolitics.com event next week in Madison.
The luncheon will be held Tuesday at The Madison Club, featuring remarks by Hughes on economic development efforts in Wisconsin.
See details and register here: https://events.humanitix.com/wispolitics-luncheon-with-marquette-university-law-school-poll-director-charles-franklin
— New Glarus Brewing co-founder Deb Carey will be recognized for her contribution to the state’s economic growth at this year’s Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference.
Carey will be presented with the Ken Hendricks Memorial “Seize the Day” award June 1 by the Wisconsin Technology Council, which is hosting the annual event at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee.
According to the Tech Council, Carey became the first woman in the country to found and operate a brewery when she established New Glarus Brewing in 1992 alongside her brewmaster husband, Dan.
See more on the event here: https://wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/holy-cow-new-glarus-brewing-co-founder-deb-carey-to-accept-seize-the-day-award-june-1-in-milwaukee/
#TOP STORIES#
# Madison West esports team part of growing trend
# 4 things to know about MKE’s downtown and Bay View development plans
# Wisconsin workplace deaths down from 2018, but more work needs to be done
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Wisconsin governor signs bipartisan bill to expand water quality protection programs
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=475&yr=2023
– Celebrating rural heroes: Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Heroes of Hope campaign
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=474&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– Collapsing wall sends debris into road at future Milwaukee Public Museum site
– Municipal coalition to fund water infrastructure modernization in disadvantaged communities
# EDUCATION
– MMSD’s Operation Fresh Start job cut draws opposition
# ENVIRONMENT
– Rare plant seen for the first time in Wisconsin in more than 44 years
# HEALTH CARE
– Vaccine mandate and masking requirements end immediately in Milwaukee County
– The COVID-19 public health emergency is ending. What does that mean for Wisconsin?
– New home, funded by Winnebago County, will help address housing crisis for adults with special needs
# INVESTING
– VC MKE returning for a second year of connecting founders of color to capital
# MANUFACTURING
– Spectrum Brands expects to close $4.3B sale by June 30 after Justice Dept. settlement
– MOTIS Brands opening new manufacturing center in Germantown
– MGS Manufacturing adding innovation center at Germantown HQ
# MEDIA
– Breaking the stigma: Farmers’ mental health struggles
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=473&yr=2023
# POLITICS
– Milwaukee County rejects abortion travel funds. Here’s what to know about the proposal
# REAL ESTATE
– Wisconsin state bill seeks to curb NIMBY opposition to housing development
– Proposal for massive Kenosha County subdivision gets green light
# SMALL BUSINESS
– La Kitchenette, east side French bistro, to close June 18
– Streetwise: Suamico Creamery will open at the Vickery Village next month
# TRANSPORTATION
– Wauwatosa considers fee on property owners to raise millions of dollars for road work
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
Milwaukee County Transit System: Ride MCTS CONNECT free through September
