Iowa and Wisconsin connect with new high-voltage transmission line
- The Cardinal-Hickory Creek line, a 345-kilovolt transmission project, spans 102 miles between Dubuque County, Iowa, and Dane County, Wisconsin.
- Construction began in April 2021 and was completed recently, with the line fully energized as of Thursday.
- The project aims to improve electrical reliability and support renewable energy, despite ongoing legal challenges from conservation groups.
Construction of a high-voltage transmission line connecting Iowa and Wisconsin has been completed, with the Cardinal-Hickory Creek line becoming fully operational as of Thursday. This 102-mile (164-kilometer) project, initiated in April 2021 by American Transmission Company, Dairyland Power Cooperative, and ITC Midwest, aims to enhance electrical reliability and support renewable energy initiatives in the region. Despite the completion, a federal lawsuit filed by conservation groups is still pending, challenging the construction's impact on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge. The utilities involved have stated that they took measures to minimize environmental disturbance during construction. The project has received praise from officials, highlighting its importance in advancing clean energy infrastructure in the Midwest.