Mosinee, WI. January 3,2003---The Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) issued notice that they will reexamine the 240-mile transmission line across northern Wisconsin now that its cost estimate has nearly tripled to $400 million.  The PSC is calling for public comments on whether the PSC should reconsider the entire project, including a review of alternative lines, renewable, conservation, and new generation that may make this highly contested project obsolete.

Public comments must be received by noon, Friday, Jan. 31, 2003, or if filing by fax one day earlier.   The words "05-CE-113 Comments Regarding Revised Project Costs" must be clearly indicated on the first page of each filing.  The public should address comments to:

Lynda L. Dorr, Secretary to the Commission
Public Service Commission
PO Box 7854
Madison, WI 53707-7854
FAX:608-266-3957

Tom Kreager, president of SOUL, a group of citizens who formed in opposition to this project seeking an integrated energy policy for Wisconsin, said that he welcomes a reopening of the Arrowhead-Weston docket.  "During the initial comment period over 10,000 public comments were made in opposition to this project.  We encourage the public to comment again, and hope that they will be listened to this time."

"When the project was approved in 2001, the PSC Commission and the utilities said there were no other alternatives to meeting the state's increasing energy needs.  For the past four years, SOUL along with counties, towns and numerous other groups have been working to stop the line in favor of alternatives that are economically and environmentally sound," Kreager added.

The American Transmission Company (ATC) has taken over the job of getting the line approved and constructed - originally proposed by two other utilities.

PSC regulators will also examine two additional issues besides the serious budget overages:

• The ATC has asked the PSC to reconsider its request to hang fiber optic cable on the 345,000 volt transmission line.  The PSC originally rejected the fiber because landowners feared ATC would use the line to generate private revenue through joint projects with cable or phone companies.  In 2001, the PSC ruled that ATC cannot use its power of eminent domain to condemn land for the purpose of renting tower space to fiber optic cable companies.  Now, ATC is asking for 12 strands "for utility purposes" rather than the original requested 48 strands.  "Optical fiber has skyrocketed in its capacity over the past few years - today just one strand can carry the communication equivalent of the world's internet traffic.  SOUL believes this is yet another attempt by the utilities to use eminent domain to take private land so that they hang fiber and lease excess capacity to third-party providers in the future - without just landowner compensation."

• The ATC is also asking the PSC to overlook the law by requesting the right to purchase easements and condemn private land through eminent domain, prior to securing all necessary Wisconsin DNR permits for construction.  The PSC, following state law, declared in 2001 that the project would not be validated (issued a CPCN) until the Wisconsin DNR "has issued all necessary permits and approvals that are required. " The Wisconsin DNR says that it cannot issue permits to ATC because the utility does not have a property interest in the private land it wants permits for.  Because the ATC needs a CPCN to condemn land and get the DNR permits -- without DNR permits, it has no effective CPCN and cannot condemn land.

"All of the issues that SOUL has said will come to pass have finally been brought to light," Kreager noted.

If you have any questions please contact:

Tom Kreager---715-693-3143
Linda Ceylor---715-474-2271
Jim Lipinski----608-266-0478

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