Group sues Public Service Commission over powerline
A group of citizens has filed a lawsuit in Dane County Circuit Court against the Wisconsin Public Service Commission's (PSC) decision to approve a high-voltage power line that links La Crosse, Wisconsin with Rochester, Minnesota.
The power line is part of a $507 million project that has created an array of power lines led by coalition utilities company Xcel Energy Corporation in Minneapolis. The project is called CapX2020.
Some citizens have formed coalition groups that are against the project – NoCapX2020 of Red Wing, Minnesota and the Citizens Energy Task Force of La Crosse – both of which have filed the lawsuit.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the suit claims that the utility company proposed the project based on old projections for electrical demand. Because these projections are outdated, they do not accurately reflect the impact of the economic downturn. In fact, the lawsuit states that the projections "were overstatements and wishful thinking on the part of the utilities."
In addition, the citizens are also arguing that the PSC did not properly adhere to warnings from the lawyers at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, who argued against portions of the project. The department cited "historic easements" aimed at preserving the scenic byway along the Mississippi River that prohibit the construction of power lines.
Although a court fight might be a long shot, according to the source, the depositions may prove to be lengthy, creating the possibility that the multiple parties involved may need to recant their sides of the case. In these types of situations, lawyers may want to partner with experienced Wisconsin court reporters who can provide real-time deposition transcripts to make the litigations a much more efficient process.
