ATC, Xcel Energy plan to file application for Badger Coulee project this fallAmerican Transmission Co. and Xcel Energy are planning to file an application to build the Badger Coulee Transmission Line Project with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin later this year. The approximately 160- to 180-mile, 345-kilovolt line would run from north of La Crosse to northern Dane County.

The project would: n address electric system reliability

issues locally and in the Midwest,n provide economic savings andn support renewable energy policy.

“The regulatory review process should take 12 to 18 months,” said ATC Environmental and Local Relations Manager Greg Levesque. “During that time, the PSC will provide opportunities for the public and other stakeholders to get involved.”

Proposed routesATC and Xcel Energy held a final round

of public open houses in October 2012. With feedback received from the public, local officials and other stakeholders, we have analyzed and refined routing opportunities, specifically in the Holmen and Galesville, Wis., areas.

“The project supports renewable energy policy goals, provides economic benefits to ratepayers throughout the upper Midwest and increases electric

reliability in the La Crosse area,” said Xcel Energy Project Manager David Rockwell. “In order to meet future electric demand, the Briggs Road Substation has been designated as the western end point for the project.”

Visit www.BadgerCoulee.com for project updates and an interactive route map.

Badger Coulee Transmission Line Project

www.BadgerCoulee.com

Summer 2013

Project would benefit Wisconsin electric consumersIn addition to reliability and renewable energy benefits for Wisconsin electric customers, the Badger Coulee project would provide between $259 and $841 million in economic benefits. These benefits outweigh the cost of construction.

Currently, congestion on Wisconsin’s interstate transmission connections increases costs to serve Wisconsin customers. By providing local utilities with a reliable connection to neighboring energy markets, utilities can buy and sell electricity to help moderate costs. They can buy power when it’s less expensive elsewhere and sell power if they have excess generation. Those savings will be passed on to you–the customer.

It can take 8 to 10 years to study, conduct public outreach, receive regulatory approval and build a new transmission line.

You have asked, we are answeringQ. How is this project related to the CapX2020 project?

A. As proposed, the Badger Coulee project would make a single, 345-kV connection with the Hampton-Rochester-La Crosse portion of the CapX2020 project. CapX2020 consists of five individual transmission line projects located in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. CapX2020 is a joint initiative of 11 transmission-owning utilities, including Xcel Energy. Visit www.CapX2020.com for more information about the CapX2020 project.

Q. What happens after ATC and Xcel Energy submit proposed routes to the PSC?

A. Once the application is submitted, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin will notify the public about the project and hold scoping meetings; create an Environmental Impact Statement, which is a detailed analysis by the PSC and DNR of how the Badger Coulee project might affect the environment; and hold technical and public hearings for the project. This regulatory review process will take approximately 12 to 18 months.

Construction on the 345-kV CapX2020 Hampton-Rochester-La Crosse project started in February 2013 in Minnesota. Grading work was completed in June 2013 at the Briggs Road Substation near Holmen, Wis. The Briggs Road Substation is the western end point for the Badger Coulee project. Real estate, surveying and soil boring work are being conducted this summer. Foundation installation for the Wisconsin portion of the CapX2020 project will begin in 2014.

Economic impact

Transmission line construction creates jobs, supports local businesses

$594.5 million total economic impact

2,824 jobs created and supported

$12.2 million in tax revenueSource: NorthStar Economics, Inc.

Badger Coulee project proposed routesCheck out a detailed interactive map, available at www.BadgerCoulee.com.

90

90

90

39

12

CARDINALSUBSTATION

NORTH MADISONSUBSTATION

WisconsinRiver

Lake Wisconsin

Wisconsin River

Mississippi River

MississippiRiver

WisconsinRiver

LakeMendota

LakeMonona

Iowa

Minnesota

C R A W F O R DC O U N T Y

D A N EC O U N T Y

I O W AC O U N T Y

P O R T A G EC O U N T YW O O D

C O U N T Y

W A U S H A R AC O U N T Y

S A U KC O U N T Y

C O L U M B I AC O U N T Y

TREMPEALEAUCOUNTY

L A C R O S S EC O U N T Y

M O N R O EC O U N T Y

J U N E A UC O U N T Y

A D A M SC O U N T Y

G R A N TC O U N T Y

V E R N O NC O U N T Y

R I C H L A N DC O U N T Y

M A R Q U E T T EC O U N T Y

J A C K S O NC O U N T Y

J U N E A UC O U N T Y

Merrimac

Mauston

RichlandCenter

Arlington

Melvina Kendall

La Crosse

LodiPrairiedu Sac

Melrose

ElroyCashton

Plain SaukCity

WarrensGalesville

De ForestDane

SunPrairie

Ontario Endeavor

Holmen

LakeDeltonLa FargeGenoa La Valle Portage

Viroqua

Oakdale

Sparta Tomah

Reedsburg

Middleton

CampDouglasWest

SalemRockland

IrontonPardeeville

YubaCazenovia

CrossPlains

Taylor

Bangor

Wyocena

RockSprings

WestBaraboo

BarabooLimeRidge

BlackRiverFalls

Blair

Arcadia

NewLisbon

Hustler

NorthFreedom

Norwalk

Readstown

Loganville

Monona

Wilton

Poynette

LyndonStation

CoonValley

UnionCenter

Stoddard WestbyChaseburgWonewoc

Hillsboro

Waunakee

NecedahWyevilleTrempealeau

WisconsinDells

Madison

Ettrick

Viola

Onalaska

C

B

A

D

EBRIGGS ROADSUBSTATION

SEESEGMENT P

DETAILAREA BELOW

SEESEGMENT B

DETAIL AREAAT LEFT

30

173

21

171

80

54

54

19

80

82

173

21

16

80

157

123

131

35

58

33

54

22

56

35

154

60

21

133

13

188

22

33

82

33

82

16

60

193

78

162

73

113

58

23

60

131 127

16

27

179

27

44

162

95

78

2793

21

71

108

71

56

23

131

13

136

82

80

23

33

27

35

130

159

60

12

14

151

12

12

14

12

53

51

12

12

51

14

14

51

14

18

53

61

61

12

12

39

90

94

90

39

39

90

NN

N

M

K

J

H

G

E

D

ABC

F

I

LM

J

O

O

O

G

P

P-East

P

N

53

53

N

P

BRIGGS ROADSUBSTATION

Galesville

Holmen

E

D

35

54

53

53

XX

Z

MHDH

D

SN

HD

V

ZB

T

AA

Segment P Detail

Segment B Detail

B-North

B A

A

CARDINALSUBSTATION

B

Madison

Middleton

CrossPlains

14

Airport Rd

Rocky

Dell Rd

City/Village

COUNTY BOUNDARY

EXISTINGSUBSTATION

Approved Hampton-Rochester-La Crosse 345- kV Transmission Project

Study Area

Outside Study Area

A B Previously Studied Potential Substation Siting Areas

C

D E

N

Route Segment ID

Northern Route (Segments A, D, E, G, H, J, K, M, N, P)

Southern Route (Segments B, C, F, G, I, J, L, M, O)O

Route Segment Node

Alternative Segment P-East

Alternative Segment B-North

Previously Studied Segments

mAP kEy

Who we are American Transmission Co. is

a Wisconsin-based transmission-only utility that

owns, operates, builds and maintains transmission

facilities in portions of Wisconsin, Michigan,

Minnesota and Illinois. For more information about

ATC and our projects, visit www.atc-projects.com.

Xcel Energy is a major U.S.

electricity and natural gas

company, with retail operations in eight Western

and Midwestern states, including Wisconsin.

Xcel Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of

energy-related products and services to 3.4 million

electricity customers and 1.9 million natural

gas customers through its regulated operating

companies. For more information about Xcel

Energy, visit www.xcelenergy.com.

The Badger Coulee project would make it much easier to access renewables from wind-rich areas west of Wisconsin.

500,000 gallon water storage tank

128 feet high

Average utility-scale wind turbine

400 feet high

Typical barn

35 feet high

Electric distribution

pole35-40 feet high

Typical 345-kV,

single-circuitstructure120 feet high

Voltage: 345 kilovolts

Length: Approximately 160 to 180 miles, depending on ordered route

Typical 345-kV right-of-way width: 105 to 150 feet

Typical 345-kV, single-circuit pole height: 80 to 120 feet

Estimated project cost: $510 million to $550 million, depending on ordered route

BADGER COULEE By THE NUmBERS

Badger Coulee Transmission Line Project Project schedule

2010-2012: Public open houses and outreach

Fall 2013: File application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin

2015: Anticipated decision from the PSC

2016: Start construction

2018: Line in service

Dates are anticipated and subject to change. Visit www.BadgerCoulee.com for a complete project schedule.

Stay connEctEd Visit www.BadgerCoulee.com and register your email address with us so we can send you project updates.