Town chips in for fight against Port data center power lines

The Town of Fredonia doesn’t want high-voltage power lines going through its land on the way to the data center in Port Washington, and last month it put its money where its mouth is.

Electors resoundingly supported giving $5,000 of town money to Responsible Energy Alliance, a coalition of Fredonia, Saukville, Trenton and Farmington residents advocating that power lines use existing corridors and not new ones that would run through their communities.

“There was overwhelming local support to do it,” Town Chairman Chris Janik said.

Janik was in the minority in speaking and voting against the donation, but not because he supports power lines going through the town.

“Both routes are through the town, and I didn’t think it was right for the town to pick sides on who gets it and who doesn’t,” he said.

American Transmission Co. has proposed multiple routes for lines to power the Vantage Data Centers Lighthouse Campus on the north side of Port Washington. Initial options included sending lines through the towns of Fredonia, Trenton, Saukville and Farmington, with ATC’s preferred route going through Saukville.

The state’s Public Service Commission has the final say on which route will be selected.

Responsible Energy Alliance in June filed a motion with the PSC claiming ATC’s application was incomplete and violates Wisconsin state law.

The PSC in August revoked the application, citing substantial changes to the application since ATC filed it in December.

ATC has since filed a second application. The Saukville and Trenton route was dropped, with one of the routes going through Fredonia being an alternate option.

“We were hoping they would eliminate all the greenfields (undeveloped lands). They left ours (a route through Fredonia) in play. We’re a little disappointed about that,” Responsible Energy Alliance member Patti Plough said.

Janik said he wonders if narrowing the route options also reduces Responsible Energy Alliance’s strength.

“Because they’ve removed one route that had lots and lots and lots of opposition, I think the fight’s a little watered down,” he said, adding he appreciates the volunteers’ effort to try to ensure the power lines are built along the least-offensive route.

ATC’s new application is under review by the PSC for completeness.