Regulatory Update: Grid Forward Central Wisconsin Project

Strategic Insights -

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has issued a regulatory update for the Joint Application of American Transmission Company LLC and Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to rebuild existing transmission infrastructure and construct a new 345 kV transmission line in Central Wisconsin. The Grid Forward Central Wisconsin Project, also known as the Grid Forward Project, aims to improve the reliability and public policy benefits of the grid in the region.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Grid Forward Project involves rebuilding approximately 175 miles of existing transmission lines and constructing a new 200-to-205-mile 345 kV transmission line from the Tremval Substation in Trempealeau County to the Columbia Substation in Columbia County.
  • The project will be jointly owned by American Transmission Company LLC (ATC) and Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin (NSPW), with ATC owning the majority of the project and NSPW owning the NSPW Segment, which is approximately 40 miles long.
  • The NSPW Segment will be constructed and operated by NSPW, and NSPW will share ownership of the segment with WPPI Energy and SMMPA Wisconsin, LLC, both of whom have intervened in the proceeding.
  • The project is anticipated to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in net economic benefits to Wisconsin customers and provide significantly greater reliability and public policy benefits to the state compared to other studied alternatives.
  • The project's ownership structure involves a joint partnership between ATC and NSPW, with ATC owning the structure and foundation and NSPW owning the conductors, optical ground wire, insulators, and hardware towards the Tremval Substation.
  • The Grid Forward Project has been designed to improve the reliability and public policy benefits of the grid in Central Wisconsin, and the project's construction is expected to begin soon.

Statistics:

  • The Grid Forward Project involves the reconstruction of approximately 175 miles of existing transmission lines and the construction of a new 200-to-205-mile 345 kV transmission line.
  • The project will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in net economic benefits to Wisconsin customers.
  • The project will provide significantly greater reliability and public policy benefits to the state compared to other studied alternatives.
  • NSPW owns approximately 550 megawatts (MW) of generation (net dependable summer capacity) and over 2,600 miles of transmission facilities.

Sources:

  • Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
  • Joint Application of American Transmission Company LLC and Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin
  • Direct Testimony of Mara Ascheman in Support of the Joint Application