Southern Wisconsin communities oppose two power-line plans

Local opposition

Residents from 10 southern Wisconsin counties rallied at the State Capitol on Oct. 13 against the proposed MariBell and BECI transmission projects. The group No 765 Line organized the event and said 82 cities, villages, towns and counties have adopted resolutions opposing the projects.

Both proposals involve 765,000-volt transmission lines that would cross parts of southern Wisconsin, including the Driftless Region. Opponents have raised concerns about possible effects on farmland, private property, natural resources and electricity costs.

Viroqua was among the first communities to formally oppose the MariBell project. Mayor Krista Browne told rally participants that proposed routes could harm farms and the region’s landscape.

Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, whose district includes much of the Driftless Region, attended the rally. He has raised concerns about the proposals with the federal secretaries of Agriculture, Energy and the Interior.

Why the lines are proposed

Supporters of expanded transmission infrastructure argue that additional lines are needed to strengthen the electrical grid and meet increasing demand for power.

The projects are part of a wider regional transmission expansion coordinated by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which manages electrical-grid planning across much of the Midwest. No 765 Line wants Wisconsin lawmakers to review that regional planning process, change state rules and create more opportunities for public participation.

State review comes next

Neither project has reached final approval. MariBell’s developers are expected to apply to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission in the closing months of 2026. A decision could come in late 2027, depending on the review timeline.

A BECI application is expected in early 2027, but no decision date has been announced. Both projects need state approval before construction can begin. Opponents plan to continue organizing and meeting with lawmakers as the proposals advance toward formal review.