Overall Project Overview
ATC plans to build a new power line from southern Lincoln County to central Marathon County. The project includes constructing a new single circuit power line, expanding a substation, and making minor upgrades to four substations.
Overall Project Description
- New power line construction – A new 115,000-volt power line connecting the Pine Substation in the city of Merrill to the Hilltop Substation in the town of Stettin that is located just to the west of the city of Wausau. Wisconsin law requires ATC to provide two buildable route options.
- Eastern route alternative – An approximately 16-mile-long power line that will start at the southern edge of the city of Merrill and will go through the town of Pine River in Lincoln County and the towns of Texas and Stettin and the village of Maine in Marathon County.
- Western route alternative – An approximately 19-mile-long power line will start at the southern edge of the city of Merrill and will go through the towns of Pine River and Scott in Lincoln County and the village of Maine and the town of Stettin in Marathon County.
- Substation expansion and upgrades – The Pine Substation will be expanded, and modifications will be made to the Gardner Park, Grandfather Falls, Hilltop, and Maine Substations.
Overall Project Need
The new power line and the substation expansion and upgrades are needed to improve electric grid reliability and relieve constraints on the current electric delivery system in the north central Wisconsin region. The project will address current and future energy needs, changes in energy generation and support local energy demand.
