HomeMy WebLinkAbout137-CE-208 Preliminary Determination Letter v10_0Telephone: (608) 266-5481 Fax: (608) 266-3957
Home Page: https://psc.wi.gov E-mail: pscrecs@wisconsin.gov
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
Summer Strand, Chairperson 4822 Madison Yards Way
Kristy Nieto, Commissioner P.O. Box 7854
Marcus Hawkins, Commissioner Madison, WI 53707-7854
September 24, 2024
Re: Application of American Transmission Company LLC, as
an Electric Public Utility, for a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity to Construct the Eldorado
Substation and Associated Network Upgrades to Lines
G-111 and X-50 (Silver Maple Solar Interconnection
Project) Located Primarily in the Village of North Fond du
Lac and Towns of Eldorado and Friendship, Fond du Lac
County, and the City of Oshkosh and Town of Nekimi,
Winnebago County, Wisconsin
137-CE-208
To the Person Addressed:
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (Commission) received an application from
American Transmission Company (ATC) for construction of the Silver Maple Interconnection
Facilities Project. The proposed project includes the construction of a 345 kV substation, two
segments of 345 kV transmission lines, an underground fiber line, and rebuilds of existing
transmission lines with two proposed route alternatives. The project in total would impact Fond
du Lac County (the Towns of Fond du Lac, Friendship, and Eldorado, and the Village of North
Fond du Lac) and Winnebago County (City of Oshkosh and Town of Nekimi). The Commission
is sending this letter to property owners near the proposed project facilities, as well as individuals
who have asked to be placed on our mailing list. It is also being sent to public officials who may
wish to place this notification in a location where it can be viewed by the public.
The project is a Type II action under Wis. Admin. Code § PSC 4.10(2). It requires the
preparation of an environmental assessment (EA) to determine if an environmental impact
statement (EIS) is necessary under Wis. Stat. § 1.11. Commission staff from the Division of
Digital Access, Consumer and Environmental Affairs completed an environmental review of the
proposed project and prepared an EA to determine if an EIS was necessary. A notification of the
Commission’s intent to prepare an EA, including a solicitation for comments on the
environmental aspects of this project, was mailed to landowners, local and regional media,
affected municipal entities, the regional planning commission, and area legislators in the project
area on July 2, 2024.
The preliminary determination indicates that no significant impacts on the human or natural
environment are likely to occur as a result of the construction and operation of this project.
Therefore, preparation of an EIS is not required. Comments regarding this determination can be
submitted through the Commission’s web comment form or directed to the contact person listed
at the end of this letter at the address below. The remainder of this letter describes the primary
impacts of the project and summarizes the conclusions of the EA. To obtain a copy of the EA,
please request a copy from the contact person listed at the end of this letter.
Docket 137-CE-208
Page 2
Proposed Project
ATC is proposing to construct the Eldorado Substation within the substation pad provided by the
Interconnection Customer. The Eldorado substation would be located off Frank Road in the
Town of Eldorado in Fond du Lac County. The substation would interconnect with the Silver
Maple Solar Generation Facility. The proposed construction also includes rebuilding existing
138 kV transmission lines, constructing a new 3.4-mile underground fiber connecting an existing
transmission line to the Eldorado substation, and the activities required for substation equipment
installation, transmission line interconnection, and remote end upgrades to the Aviation,
Ellinwood, Fitzgerald, North Fond du Lac, South Fond du Lac, and Progress substations. The
applicant proposed two possible routes for the transmission line rebuilds; the Preferred Route
that would result in new ROW would be approximately 17.9 miles long, and the Alternate Route
that would be wholly within existing ROW would be approximately 17.8 miles long. A new
345 kV generator lead line would connect to the Eldorado substation. The generator lead line
would be designed, permitted, furnished, installed, owned, and operated by the Interconnection
Customer, which was considered in docket 9813-CE-100 and is not part of this application.
Construction activity would cause ground disturbing activity within the transmission line ROWs,
as well as below-ground construction required to install foundations and electrical equipment
within the prepared substation pad.
Potential Natural Resource and Social Impacts
The proposed project would cause and perpetuate environmental impacts based on the proposed
construction activities and the existing land use, habitats, residences, and features within the
project area. Substation construction and transmission structure installation would create
temporary visual and noise impacts equivalent to highway traffic and truck equipment.
Longer-term visual impacts, experienced by residents of nearby homes and by drivers and
pedestrians on nearby roads, would be perpetuated by the new substation and the new
transmission structures as part of the rebuilt transmission lines. During construction activities,
there would be increased noise, dust, and vibration in the construction areas. There would be
increased traffic and parking in the project area as employees and deliveries arrive at and leave
the project work areas and laydown yards. Following construction there may be an increase in
operational noise impacts surrounding the substation due to the new substation equipment.
Loose or disturbed soils could be susceptible to erosion or establishment of invasive plant
species. Animals and vegetation in the project area could be displaced or damaged as a result of
construction activities. The project transmission line construction would impact 105.65 acres of
grasslands for the Preferred Route, and 107.40 acres for the Alternate Route. Transmission line
construction would result in 4.56 acres of tree clearing for the Preferred Route, and 3.15 acres for
the Alternate Route. Transmission line construction would also result in 13.36 acres of
temporary wetland fill and 0.08 acre of permanent wetland fill for the Preferred Route option,
and 12.73 acres of temporary wetland fill, and 0.07 acre of permanent wetland fill for the
Alternate Route option.
Docket 137-CE-208
Page 3
Conclusion
The project as proposed in the application and subsequent filings, including use of the stated
construction methods and implementation of the mitigation plans, is not expected to cause any
significant environmental effects. This is a Type II action under Wis. Admin. Code § PSC
4.10 (2). This EA was prepared to determine if an EIS is necessary under Wis. Stat. § 1.11. It is
unlikely that significant effects on the human environment would occur as a result of this project.
Therefore, preparation of an EIS is not required.
Copies of the EA are available upon request, either in electronic or paper format (for a paper
copy, an address must be provided). Requests for a copy of the EA should be made to Adam
Ingwell at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin by telephone at (608) 267-9197, by
e-mail at adam.ingwell@wisconsin.gov or by regular mail directed to the Public Service
Commission, P.O. Box 7854, Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7854.
Comments on the finding of no significant impact for this proposed project should be made to
Adam Ingwell at the address above, or through the Commission’s web comment form. Go to the
Commission’s website at https://psc.wi.gov , click on “Commission Actions,” then click on “File
a Public Comment.” On the next page, select “File a comment” for case 137-CE-208.
All comments must be received by Wednesday October 9, 2024.
Sincerely,
Adam Ingwell
Environmental Affairs Coordinator – Supervisor
Division of Digital Access, Consumer and Environmental Affairs
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