How Democrats View Power

In the middle of the August heat of 2003 a massive blackout engulfs heavily populated areas of the United States and Canada. The North American Electric Reliability Council is formed in response to widespread system failure on the power grid and Iain Murray of the Competitive Enterprise Institute discusses their findings.

What will we do when America’s lights go out? Soon after the widespread blackouts of 2003, the Electric Reliability Organization was established, and it recently issued its first report. That report makes for grim reading because the nation’s electric power infrastructure is on the brink of collapse. Misguided environmental regulations, green obstructionism and the NIMBY (Not-in-my-backyard) syndrome have combined to delay the construction of desperately needed new power plants and transmission lines.

Wisconsin based American Transmission Company reports today that extensive infrastructure work is needed to keep lights on and computers running.

Transmission System Assessment: ATC identifies an estimated $3.1 billion in work needed over the next 10 years to ensure that the transmission grid can reliably meet the electric needs of people and businesses throughout most of Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This is the first time in six years that ATC’s estimated dollar amount for the 10 year plan has gone down and it’s due to a decrease in the number of projects needed to improve reliability and modernize aging equipment.

Williamson identified southwestern Wisconsin as the portion of ATC’s service area with the greatest need for system upgrades and expansions because low voltages and overloaded facilities threaten the future reliability of the electric system. Low voltages can cause lights to dim or harm to computers or industrial processes. New infrastructure also is needed to accommodate load growth, particularly in and around fast-growing Dane County.

Adequate power is essential for a good quality of life and ample power is necessary for any job and economic growth so, of course, there is massive organized and well funded opposition. Remember it took a WI Supreme Court Decision to allow Wisconsin Electric Corporation to build a new coal burning electric plant next to the existing plant in Oak Creek, and every transmission line runs into fierce resistance from environmentalist groups. The Capital Times cheerleads for the NIMBY no growth left.

Vote 'yes' For Power Study: A study was conducted two years ago, and it concluded that new power lines are needed. Unfortunately, the study was funded by ATC. … On so contentious an issue as whether Dane County residents should accept $200 million in new and upgraded high-voltage power lines in their neighborhoods, this scenario does not work.

Make ATC Show Power Lines Needed: The American Transmission Co. has been executing a skillfully crafted multimillion-dollar public relations campaign to convince the public and our elected officials that we need to build $200 million transmission lines in Dane County. But are new power lines really needed? Do they serve the public interest?

Power Study Passes: The vote on the transmission line study was 152,765 in favor and 48,934 against.

In the same election giving the state cash register back to Jim Doyle, a three to one margin of Dane County Democrats insist another study is needed because ATC is “for profit” and the Public Services Commission can’t be trusted. Apparently there is no rush to get anything done because the lights are on and any problem would be visible.