There’s widespread community and local government opposition in Sauk County and surrounding regions of south-central Wisconsin against the proposed BECI transmission line project. Midcontinent Grid Solutions (MGS) is advancing plans for a $1.3 billion, 190-mile-long 765-kilovolt transmission line that would cut across several counties, spanning from Crawford County through Sauk and Columbia counties down toward the Illinois border. The proposed infrastructure relies on towering 175-foot power structures, which local residents, school districts, and county leaders argue threaten the region’s scenic natural landscapes—such as the Baraboo Hills—along with local tourism, agricultural resources, and school outdoor learning environments.
In response to the preliminary route proposals, local officials—including Sauk County Board leadership and area school boards—are calling on developers to halt current plans and go “back to the drawing board”. Opponents contend that instead of establishing entirely new high-voltage corridors through private farmland, active school district properties, and natural viewsheds, the developers should utilize existing, pre-established rights-of-way and utility routes. State lawmakers and grassroots community coalitions across the Driftless region have joined the opposition, urging regulatory bodies like the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to mandate stricter environmental and visual impact reviews to protect rural communities.
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