Federal judge temporarily blocks plans for a power line in Mississippi River wildlife refuge

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News/AP

March 22, 2024, 1:45 PM


MADISON, Wis. -- A federal judge has temporarily blocked plans to build a high-voltage power line across a Mississippi River wildlife refuge, saying he wants to see documents detailing the lead-up to the project's approval.

U.S. District Judge William Conley issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday preventing American Transmission Company, ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power Cooperative from beginning construction on a one-mile portion of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line that would cross the refuge. He extended the injunction indefinitely following a hearing in Madison on Friday morning.

The 345-kilovolt power line would run 102 miles (164 kilometers) between Iowa's Dubuque County and Wisconsin's Dane County. A section of the line would cross the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge near Cassville, Wisconsin.

The refuge serves as a haven for fish, wildlife and migratory birds that use it as breeding grounds. It is the only stopping point left for many migratory birds that use the Mississippi Flyway. Conservationists fear the transmission line will damage the refuge and have been working for years to stop the project in court.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/federal-judge-temporarily-blocks-plans-power-line-mississippi-108396082

[NickB79]

1. I'm mixed on this

Because it's a high-value wildlife corridor.

But, we will never address climate change with Great Plains wind energy if it's bottlenecked by lack of transmission lines.

And if we don't get a handle on climate change immediately, there's no telling if most of those species that use the corridor will even survive the mass extinction event we've initiated.

[Phoenix61]

2. Good. I'm glad someone is looking into the whole process.

I’d like to know what their safety and EPA compliance record looks like.