Power line through Northern Wisconsin

“pekka...... everybody.....

Did you read in the latest Backpacker about a proposed power line running from Duluth into Wisconsin?

According to Backpacker, "The resulting 250-mile clear-cut scar would parallel, then cross, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, plow through the North Country National Scenic Trail, and span the Namekagon River section of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway."

Not good.........

To help, contact Save Our Unique Lands, (800) 270-8455

or visit the website:
www.wakeupwisconsin.com”

“Well, that's one take on it. Note the inflammatory language. Let's just say we have a lot of people in the Midwest, including here in the "I want to escape the city and move up" North, who are using a sh!tload of juice. Our town is near its max capacity on the lines servicing the local grid. A local co-generation plant adjacent to the papermill went down to opposition a few years ago. A line off the proposed big line would come here, allowing the commerce that is needed if the young persons growing up here are to have halfway decent jobs so they can stay.

Is the powerline a good idea? Difficult to know, since several corridors have actually be suggested and all are subject to DNR impact review. The power has to come from somewhere or we have to lower our consumption. Yeah, right. I'm crossing my fingers that fuel cell technology will arrive before the litigation settles. I will say this, the anti-powerline folks at the hearing over the winter were extremely rude.

As to the Namakagon, I've canoed a pretty fair section in the heart of the scenic designation. It is a narrow corridor. Our scenic river campsite the first night was lullabyed by a generator-driven irrigation pump in a farm field off behind the trees of the corridor. We passed under at least one big powerline. Scenic, but not always wild.”