Feb. 6, 2026
GAYS MILLS, Wis. — A volunteer group of residents and landowners in the Driftless Area will host a public information meetings regarding the proposed MariBell Transmission Project, a massive high-voltage power line slated to cut through the region.
Meetings to help landowners potentially affected by construction of the 765 kilivolt (kV) MariBell Transmission Line have been held recently in Retreat, Viola and Ferryville. A meeting intended primarily for potentially affected landowners will be held in Gays Mills at the Community Commerce Center on Saturday, Feb. 7, starting at 10 a.m.
A meeting, organized by the group No765line and supported by the Gays Mills Public Library, is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Gays Mills Community Commerce Center. Organizers state the event is intended to inform residents, elected officials, and business owners about the potential economic, environmental, and electric bill impacts of what would be the largest transmission line ever constructed in the Upper Midwest.
Project Background and Scope
The MariBell Transmission Project is a joint venture between Dairyland Power Cooperative, headquartered in La Crosse, and GridLiance Heartland, LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Transmission. The proposal involves constructing approximately 140 miles of double-circuit transmission lines carrying 765 kilovolts (kV) and 161 kV of electricity.
The line is designed to run from Marion, Minnesota, crossing the Mississippi River near Genoa, Wisconsin, to a substation in Bell Center, located south of Gays Mills in Crawford County. From there, the infrastructure is expected to connect to a larger regional network extending to Columbia County, Wisconsin.
Developers state the project was approved by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) as part of a Long Range Transmission Plan to improve regional grid reliability, increase resilience during extreme weather, and support the transition to renewable energy sources. Dairyland officials have emphasized that the line will facilitate the transfer of low-cost energy resources between Minnesota and Wisconsin and help meet surging energy demand in the region.
While a final construction cost for the project has not been detailed in recent fact sheets, developers highlight the potential economic upside. They estimate the project could generate over $30 million in state tax revenue for Wisconsin and more than $400 million in combined local and state tax revenue across both states over its lifespan. However, critics at recent public hearings have cited estimated costs as high as $900 million for the segment, arguing that such expenses typically fall to ratepayers.
Routing and Potential Impacts
A final route has not yet been determined. However, Dairyland and GridLiance have stated they intend to utilize existing transmission corridors where possible to minimize land impacts. The proposed study area spans Olmsted, Mower, Fillmore, and Houston counties in Minnesota and Vernon and Crawford counties in Wisconsin.
The physical footprint of the project would be substantial. The new line is expected to require widening existing rights-of-way to approximately 200 feet. The steel lattice towers supporting the lines would stand between 130 and 200 feet tall—significantly larger than the 70-foot wooden poles currently familiar to residents in the area.
Local Government and Landowner Pushback
Opposition to the project was brought directly to county officials earlier this month. During a Feb. 4 meeting of the Vernon County General Government Committee, residents and landowners urged the committee to adopt an information request resolution to demand specific data from the developers.
Carl Volden, a local resident circulating petitions against the line, questioned the necessity of the project by citing David Patton, an independent monitor for MISO who reportedly stated that 765 kV projects should be postponed.
“High cost of a 765 addition is unfair to ratepayers and undermines more cost effective and investment in distributed resources,” said Volden.
Volden also raised concerns about corona discharge, a phenomenon associated with 765 kV lines that can emit audible noise and ultraviolet light which he said could disturb livestock and wildlife.
“Emitted noises can be as loud as a screeching bared owl or as loud as a handheld vacuum cleaner,” said Volden.
Rob Danielson, a potentially impacted landowner from the Town of Stark, presented the committee with a draft resolution to establish accountable written standards for information required by the county before the application is submitted to state regulators. Danielson emphasized the unprecedented nature of the proposal for the state.
“This is the first time that we have ever had this super level, mega level of transmission proposed in the state of Wisconsin,” said Danielson.
Danielson also highlighted the potential impact on local housing density near the lines, noting that satellite reviews reveal many homes were built close to the existing, smaller transmission lines.
“There are a very significant number of existing dwellings that were built up close to that existing transmission line,” said Danielson.
Opposition and Concerns
Opposition to the project has mobilized quickly, citing concerns over property rights, environmental degradation, and the necessity of the project.
Sunday’s meeting in Gays Mills will feature a panel of experts critical of the proposal, including Kurt Kielisch, a forensic appraisal specialist who studies the impact of high-voltage lines on property values. Other speakers include Erik Olson and Andrew Weininger of Eminent Domain Services in Madison, attorneys representing landowners in transmission line proceedings, and Danielson.
Critics like Danielson argue that the line is unnecessary for local reliability. They contend that the project prioritizes the movement of bulk power for regional markets and data centers over local needs, suggesting that non-transmission alternatives—such as local solar generation, battery storage, and energy efficiency—are more cost-effective and less destructive.
“No land should be taken for any circumstance, for something that’s not needed,” said Danielson at a prior open house in Westby.
Concerns also extend to the environmental fragility of the Driftless Area and the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Opponents fear the construction of massive towers and wide clear-cuts will damage the region’s unique karst geology, disrupt migratory bird patterns, and mar the scenic landscape that supports the local tourism economy.
Residents have also expressed frustration with the regulatory process, noting that while utility companies have suggested using existing corridors, this often places massive new infrastructure directly next to homes and farms that grew up around much smaller power lines.
Timeline and Approval Process
The MariBell project is currently in the public outreach and routing study phase. The developers anticipate filing permit applications, which must include at least two proposed routes, with state regulators in 2026.
The timeline includes public and landowner outreach, routing studies, and permitting from 2025 to 2031. An anticipated filing of the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is expected in 2026. The planned construction phase runs from 2031 to 2034, pending approvals, with a targeted in-service date of 2034.
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has the final authority to approve the need for the project and its route. If approved, the utility would then have the authority to acquire necessary easements, potentially using eminent domain if voluntary agreements with landowners cannot be reached.
Sunday’s meeting in Gays Mills is free and open to the public.
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