The co-owners of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek Transmission Line Project – ATC, ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power Cooperative – are very pleased with the July 19 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to reverse and vacate the judgment of the Federal District Court. The co-owners and federal agencies prevailed on all key points.
Construction of the Cardinal-Hickory project is largely complete in Wisconsin and Iowa, and this decision clears the way for completion of the remaining segments. The co-owner utilities look forward to working with the federal agencies so they can now move expeditiously to complete their decision making.
The Cardinal-Hickory Creek Transmission Line Project is the essential bridge that enables renewable energy to be brought to market, resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions. Currently, there are 115 generation projects in Wisconsin and four other states representing more than 17 gigawatts of renewable energy dependent upon its construction – enough to power millions of homes with clean energy.
The Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line will provide a vital pathway to help ensure the cost-effective, renewable and reliable energy that consumers are seeking is available and affordable. The project will reduce energy costs, improve the reliability and flexibility of the region’s transmission system, and support the interconnection of renewable generation in the Upper Midwest.