Waukesha, Wis.-based American Transmission Co. has issued a report outlining the reliability and the environmental and economic benefits of the recently completed 220-mile Arrowhead-Weston transmission line to communities and electricity users in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest.
According to the company, the 345 kV Arrowhead-Weston transmission line does the following:
- strengthens electric system reliability by bringing 600 MW of electricity into northern and central Wisconsin;
- provides an alternate source of power for the region, increasing transfer capability and stability to the electric system;
- allows utilities greater participation in the regional energy market;
- gives green energy greater access to consumer markets;
- is more efficient and reduces energy losses over the 40-year life of the line, saving 5.7 million MWh hours of electricity; and
- provides $62 million in direct payments to the communities through which the line passes over the 40-year life of the line.
Construction of the line was completed ahead of schedule, allowing ATC to energize the line four months early, in January. All costs have been finalized, and ATC closed its books on the project, notifying the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) that the final cost was $436 million, within the 5% allowable contingency set by the PSCW.
SOURCE: American Transmission Co.
