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Dear Senator Erpenbach and Representative Considine,
As elected chair of the Town of Arena Board located in your district, I take the liberty of asking for your assistance as we continue to seek a meeting with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to answer our questions regarding the proposed Cardinal Hickory Creek (CHC) high voltage transmission line.
Since early 2017, the Town of Arena and authorized representatives of eight other town and village municipalities potentially affected by CHC have met monthly and formed the Inter-Municipal Energy Planning Committee (IMEPC).
As voting members of IMEPC, we municipal representatives agreed to request a meeting with PSC in order to ask questions and get explanations about the CHC review process. We are acutely aware that the clock is ticking regarding the CHC application and review process before the PSC, which is, according to its own description: "...an independent regulatory agency dedicated to serving the public interest. The agency is responsible for the regulation of Wisconsin public utilities..."
However, our requests to meet in person with the PSC have not been mentioned in responses IMEPC received from PSC staff. How can this be? The PSC is a state agency funded and supported by us...your constituents. Serving the "public interest" is a stated mission of the PSC.
Because of the uncertain timing of important PSC decisions regarding CHC, we are in need of your help. Please contact the PSC in writing to support the requests of IMEPC members - including Arena Township - for an in-person meeting with PSC. The information we request from PSC is vital to your constituents' having their questions answered.
Additionally, we ask for your support in encouraging your colleagues, Senator Howard Marklein and Representative Todd Novak, to assist their constituents in gathering information from the PSC about the CHC review process.
Sincerely,
David Lucey Chair, Town of Arena
Iowa County