Viroqua Common Council adopts resolution opposing MariBell Transmission Line

Aug. 29, 2026

By Tim Hundt

VIROQUA, Wis. – The Viroqua Common Council has voted unanimously to adopt a formal resolution opposing the proposed MariBell high voltage transmission line project joining a growing coalition of Driftless Area municipalities fighting the massive electrical infrastructure.

The local resolution formally declares the city’s opposition to the 765 kilovolt transmission line, which developers are planning to construct from Marion Minnesota to Bell Center, Wis. The route is planned to cross the Mississippi River near Genoa and traverse rural properties throughout Vernon County, prompting intense concern from residents and local officials who warn that the project threatens the fragile Driftless Area ecology and local tourism.

The council took up the measure as Item 19 during its August 25 meeting following a presentation by local opposition leaders. Under the resolution, the city requests that the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin give careful and deliberate consideration to the unique environmental, agricultural, and cultural characteristics of the region when reviewing the project.

The presentation was led by Michael Browne, who is the husband of Viroqua Mayor Krista Browne and serves as a board member, treasurer, and media lead for the advocacy group No 765 Line Inc. He was joined by Tim Woodhouse of Genoa, who leads the Coalition Against MariBell 765 Inc, which represents approximately 70 directly impacted local families. Both presenters and Mayor Browne are active members of groups opposing the transmission corridor.

Michael Browne opened the presentation by explaining that the proposed transmission line represents an unprecedented level of voltage for the state of Wisconsin.

“These are the biggest power lines ever proposed in Wisconsin,” said Michael Browne. “And they carry 765 kilovolts, which is a lot more than we have ever seen.”

Michael Browne explained that the 200 foot tall steel towers are designed to carry massive electrical loads, noting that their physical scale presents serious construction and safety challenges for small rural towns.

“Towers are huge and they weigh a lot,” said Michael Browne. “And there is a lot of wear and tear on your roads when they come through.”

He also raised concerns about whether local emergency services are equipped to handle any high voltage accidents.

“Are local emergency medical technicians and municipal crews actually equipped to handle emergencies when they happen,” said Michael Browne. “It is something else to think about.”

In his presentation, Michael Browne pointed out that electrical consumption in Wisconsin has actually been on a steady downward trend for the past two decades.

“Wisconsin has been great about electricity use,” said Michael Browne. “And for the past 20 years, demand has been on a 4 percent decline.”

He explained that despite this decline, utility planners have suddenly reversed their projections, forecasting a massive increase in demand to support several massive digital storage projects.

“Why is this happening now when demand has been going down,” said Michael Browne. “The forecast all of a sudden flipped and said we are expecting a 40 percent increase in demand, with most of that attributed to three specific data centers.”

Michael Browne warned that if these projected data centers fail to materialize, local rate payers will be left holding the financial bill for an unnecessary project.

“What happens if those data centers do not actually come online,” said Michael Browne. “We would be stuck with some very large, obtrusive towers and the cost that goes along with them.”

He explained that because Vernon County is a leading hub for organic agriculture, the construction of these massive power lines threatens the soil integrity of local organic farms.

“We have 230 certified organic farms in Vernon County,” said Michael Browne. “And when lines like this go up, they can establish permanent easements and destroy organic soil.”

“I have to keep my personal opinions to myself in my role,” said Tim Woodhouse. “But I understand the role of government and eminent domain, and we feel that the use of eminent domain on our properties and homes is not appropriate.”

Mayor Krista Browne asked the presenters to clarify how eminent domain would be applied to private landowners for this project. Tim Woodhouse explained that eminent domain is legally reserved for the public good, but noted that local communities see no tangible benefit from the transmission line despite carrying all the risk.

“Generally speaking, eminent domain is used for the public good, and that is why this issue has spilled over into the public forums,” said Tim Woodhouse. “But the town of Genoa and Vernon County have sat through the presentations and have not seen any benefit to local residents.”

Builders say the line is necessary for grid reliability

Project representatives from Dairyland Power and GridLiance Heartland have pushed back against criticisms at public meetings and information sessions, arguing that the high voltage corridor is a critical upgrade needed to secure the regional power grid.

Utility developers contend that the regional grid is completely interconnected and that electricity from the new line will step down to support local communities rather than simply bypassing them. During an interview following the Retreat open house on March 12, Senior Director of Transmission Development Jessica Hewitt explained that local communities would directly benefit as power moves through the grid.

“That is actually incorrect because the voltage is stepped down lower and lower and lower to the point where it is at the distribution voltage level and feeding homes,” said Jessica Hewitt. “It actually does connect into the local community.”

Siting directors also defend the physical scale of the 765 kilovolt project by explaining that a single larger line has a significantly smaller footprint on the landscape than building multiple smaller lines to move the same amount of power. At the joint town board meeting in Redmound on March 11, GridLiance Director of Development Laurie Dunham compared the land requirements of the different options.

“You would need three 345 double circuit lines for 450 feet of right away or six single circuit 345 lines for 900 feet of right away,” said Laurie Dunham. “The 765 design minimizes land use while maintaining high reliability.”

Furthermore, project representatives emphasize that construction crews will coordinate closely with local landowners to protect sensitive soils and use specialized heavy timber matting to prevent erosion on steep slopes. At the same Redmound community meeting, Dairyland government relations representative Luke Fuller stated that the developers would utilize public comments to refine the proposed route.

“We can build a better line by taking that feedback into account and propose the best line possible,” said Luke Fuller. “We want to propose a line that makes the most sense.”

Environmental protections

To protect the delicate unglaciated landscape of the Driftless Area, project representatives from Dairyland Power and GridLiance Heartland have outlined specific environmental protection plans that they are legally and contractually required to implement.

During a presentation to the Vernon County Board of Supervisors in Viroqua on February 19, 2026, and again at a joint town board meeting at the Redmound Community Center on March 11, 2026, developers explained that the project must adhere to a strict Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

To prevent soil erosion and runoff into local trout streams, construction crews will be required to install active sediment barriers such as silt fences, straw bales, and sediment logs. Soil compaction on fragile ridges will be mitigated through the mandatory use of heavy timber mat roads to support crane and concrete truck traffic. Land leads for the project also noted that topsoil will be salvaged and preserved during excavations and then fully restored to its original condition. Once the massive steel structures are set, developers must decompact the soil and establish permanent perennial vegetation to stabilize the area.

The builders also said agricultural lands will receive additional protections. Contractors must schedule heavy construction during the winter when the ground is frozen to reduce deep rutting on active farms, and developers are prohibited from spraying chemical herbicides to manage vegetation without the express written permission of the landowner.

To ensure these standards are followed, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin will oversee independent, third party environmental monitors and agricultural inspectors. These neutral monitors, funded by the utilities but representing the state, will actively patrol the 140 mile corridor to verify that all erosion controls and restoration practices are successfully executed.

Who pays?

Mayor Browne then asked whether ratepayers would receive any return or compensation for the local construction. Michael Browne responded by explaining that utility companies actually pass the massive project costs directly to consumers, noting that the regional transmission expansion was originally approved as a $10 billion plan in 2022 before being revised to $22 billion just two years later. These costs are passed directly to energy consumers on their monthly electric bills, securing a guaranteed annual return on their investment.

“Ratepayers will pay back the company that developed the project for the foreseeable future,” said Michael Browne. “And that is at a guaranteed return of roughly 10 percent per year for the life of the project, which could be up to 60 years.”

Builders Say Cost is Distributed

Project representatives have defended the financial structure of the corridor, arguing that regional cost sharing will shield local customers from carrying the full burden of the multi-billion dollar project.

During a presentation to the Vernon County Board of Supervisors in Viroqua on February 19, 2026, Dairyland government relations representative Luke Fuller explained that because the project is classified as a multi-value project by the regional grid operator, the costs are spread across energy providers in 15 states. Fuller stated that local cooperative members will only pay a small, proportional share rather than the full cost of the Wisconsin construction.

“The people in Vernon and Crawford are not paying the full cost of the construction of the 765 line in Wisconsin,” said Luke Fuller. “You are paying a proportional share of it, just as you are for the portions of the line that are being built somewhere else.”

Fuller also noted that the existing 161 kilovolt line through the region was built in the 1950s or 1960s and must be replaced in the near future. He argued that if Dairyland rebuilt that infrastructure alone, local members would have to pay the entire bill themselves, whereas co-locating the lines on the new steel towers allows regional cost-sharing to subsidize the local replacement.

Furthermore, developers point out that because Dairyland is a member-owned, non-profit cooperative, the regulated rate of return it earns on building the line is returned directly to local distribution cooperatives to keep local electric bills down. At the Vernon Electric Cooperative annual meeting in Westby on February 26, 2026, representatives explained that cooperative ownership directly benefits local consumers when they stated “If Dairyland owns the project, the return stays with its members and puts downward pressure on rates. If investors own it, it goes to shareholders.”

The Opponents’ Counterargument

Despite the developers’ assertions, local opposition groups and agricultural coalitions strongly contest this financial math. Opponents estimate that even with regional cost-sharing, the collective Tranche 2.1 projects will add approximately $13.50 to $13.52 per month to the bill of a typical residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month.

They also frequently cite the findings of MISO’s own Independent Market Monitor, Dr. David Patton, who warned that the high capital costs of the 765 kV buildout that he states are based on flawed economic modeling.

Dr. Patton, serving as MISO’s Independent Market Monitor, warned that MISO used deeply flawed and distorted assumptions to artificially inflate the economic benefits of the Tranche 2.1 projects. In his official July 2024 memorandum, Patton warned that uneconomic transmission investments raise overall system costs and undermine efficient investments in resources, storage, and other alternatives. He concluded that if MISO’s flawed assumptions were corrected, the multi-billion-dollar project’s costs would outweigh its benefits. While Patton notes that uneconomic planning “will raise costs,” the specific framing of these costs being “unfair” or “unjustified” to ratepayers is the language of the five State Public Service Commissions in their formal FERC complaint and local landowners rather than a direct quote from Patton’s technical report

Vernon County and City of Viroqua

During the Viroqua City Council discussion, Alderperson Cyndy Hubbard asked about the physical spacing of the towers and how many would be built across the county landscape. Tim Woodhouse responded that although the exact placements are still unknown due to the hilly geography, the structures will replace existing smaller utility poles at a ratio of one to three.

“We have been told that on a straight stretch, roughly three current structures would be replaced by one massive tower,” said Tim Woodhouse. “But they certainly have not told us the final placements yet because we have some pretty traverse terrain around here.”

The council’s discussion highlighted how local opposition has steadily built over several months. Cyndy Hubbard previously announced upcoming informational meetings on the MariBell line during a February 10 council session, while former administrator Nate Torres noted that the county board was hosting Dairyland Power representatives to answer questions.

Following those early sessions, the Vernon County Board of Supervisors took a unified stand on March 19, unanimously adopting Resolution 2026-19 to oppose the line. Multiple neighboring jurisdictions have since adopted similar opposition measures, including Crawford County on June 16 and the towns of Genoa, Wheatland, and Sterling.

To give their opposition legal authority, the Vernon County General Government Committee voted unanimously on August 5 to hire Progressive Law Group LLC as specialized legal counsel. The county intends to formally intervene in the state regulatory proceedings before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.

Following the presentation on August 25, Cyndy Hubbard made a motion to officially pass the city’s opposition resolution, which was seconded and approved unanimously by the Viroqua Common Council.

Lori Polhamus, the Viroqua City Clerk, noted that the approved resolution will be formally recorded and transmitted to the Public Service Commission and the developers to ensure Viroqua’s voice is represented in the state’s upcoming docket hearings.

Summary of Resolutions of Outright Opposition

Outright Opposition

• Vernon County, WI: Adopted Resolution 2026-19 on March 19, 2026, formally and unequivocally opposing the high-voltage transmission line in the Driftless Area due to erodible soils, threats to organic farming, Amish communities, and tourism.
• Crawford County, WI: Adopted a formal resolution opposing the construction of the line on June 16, 2026.
• Houston County, MN: The Board of Commissioners formally adopted a resolution opposing the transmission facility entirely in February 2026, stating that developers must first conclusively demonstrate that the 765 kV line is the least impactful alternative.
• Town of Wheatland (Vernon County, WI): Adopted an outright opposition resolution on March 11, 2026.
• Town of Genoa (Vernon County, WI): Adopted an outright opposition resolution on April 21, 2026.
• Township of Freeman (Crawford County, WI): Adopted an outright opposition resolution on April 27, 2026.
• Town of Haney (Crawford County, WI): Formally adopted and sent a letter opposing the transmission line on December 8, 2025.
• Town of Sterling (Vernon County, WI): Adopted Resolution 2026-1 opposing the line on June 18, 2026.
• Town of Seneca (Crawford County, WI): Adopted Resolution 2026-02 opposing the line on July 15, 2026.
• Village of Ferryville (Crawford County, WI): Adopted Resolution 2026-07 opposing the line on July 15, 2026.
• City of Viroqua, WI: Adopted Resolution 2026-19 opposing the line on July 25, 2026

Information-Request & Siting Transparency Resolutions

These resolutions do not take an official stance on the project itself, but establish legally backed written demands for maps, environmental data, and economic impacts to create a formal paper trail before applications are filed.

• Vernon County, WI: Separately adopted Resolutions 2026-17 and 2026-18 on March 19, 2026, directing information requests to the developers of both proposed dockets.
• Crawford County, WI: Unanimously adopted a resolution on February 17, 2026, requesting answers to 18 specific document requests—such as routing preferences and electric bill impacts—by March 15, 2026.
• Richland County, WI: Unanimously adopted Resolution 26-7 on March 17, 2026, demanding in-depth economic and geographic data from the developers.
• Town of Harmony (Vernon County, WI): Passed an information-request resolution on April 25, 2026.
• Town of Forest (Richland County, WI): Passed Resolution R 2025-01 on December 19, 2025, formally requesting detailed route maps and impact statements.
• Town of Webster (Vernon County, WI): Adopted an information-request resolution on October 21, 2025, after supervisors expressed frustration about a lack of communication from developers.
• Kickapoo Valley Reserve (Vernon County, WI): Passed an information-request resolution on November 20, 2025, highlighting concerns about corona discharge noise and hazards to migratory birds.

Member-Owned Cooperative Resolutions

• Vernon Electric Cooperative: At its 90th annual meeting on February 26, 2026, a majority of the 185 member-owners present approved an advisory resolution demanding Dairyland Power Cooperative provide clearer answers regarding project necessity and ratepayer billing impacts.
• Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative: Members voted unanimously on April 11, 2026, to adopt an advisory resolution requesting that Dairyland and GridLiance provide high-resolution digital maps, elevation renderings, and noise/EMF mitigation studies.