The "Badger-Coulee" High Voltage Transmission proposal before the people of Wisconsin is the first proposed, cost-shared 345 kV high voltage transmission line of a potentially 6,000 mile, $25-120 billion transmission expansion plan sought by allied utilities across the upper Midwest.
 
As electricity use is projected at an historically low growth rate of under 1% for the next 25 years and the expansion plan makes no guarantees for carbon emission reductions, this petition asks the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to conduct one or more impartial studies so that ratepayers can compare the benefits of making a comparable investment in aggressive energy efficiency, demand side management and distributed energy incentives in conjunction with upgrades to "low voltage" and existing high voltage lines as needed.
 
Benefits from well-funded programs in Vermont and Massachusetts suggest that efficiency significantly lowers overall use, saves 5 dollars for every dollar spent over time, creates many thousands of sustainable jobs every year and stimulates distributed generation-- all while reducing carbon emissions more significantly.
 
If approved, costs for most of the transmission projects in the expansion plan would be assumed by customers across 12 Midwestern states. All ratepayers in the Midwest and other states are encouraged to sign the petition. The petition will be copied to the PSC's of all states that would be affected by the Midwest-ISO transmission plan.
 
Resolution versions of this petition are available for organizations and local governments. Contact: soulofthekickapoo@gmail.com for drafts and more information.
 
Thank you for considering to support for this important citizen and ratepayer initiative. Please pass the news of the petition to friends and organizations.
 
SOUL of the Kickapoo
http://soulofthekickapoo.org/

We the undersigned ask the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to insure that Wisconsin ratepayers will be able to evaluate impartial studies of alternative, non-high voltage transmission, solutions for this proposal no later than the public announcement of proposed routes in Fall 2012.  One alternative solution for cost-benefit comparison must combine aggressive energy efficiency, expanded implementation of demand side management and increased dispersed generation incentives with improvements to low voltage transmission lines as needed for in-state reliability. Total funding for the alternatives must be equal to the amount Wisconsin ratepayers would assume for MTEP11 development including the Multi Value Projects in Appendixes A, B and C or an estimated $40 billion of the $80 billion in total construction costs. All studies should include benefits that are important to citizens and ratepayers including in-state job creation, affects on residential and business operation costs, regional carbon emission reductions, impacts on in-state Renewable Energy goals and generation and local distribution restrictions that could discourage energy self-sufficiency.

Thank you receiving and acting upon this request.