About the Transmission Line
The proposed BECI project is a new 765-kilovolt electric transmission line planned to extend approximately 190-miles across southern Wisconsin. According to the project developers, the transmission line is intended to strengthen the regional electric grid and meet future electricity demand.
As proposed, it would run on 150–200-foot steel towers across southern Wisconsin, including the Lake Ripley watershed area. It is a pass-through line: built to move bulk power across the region, not designed to deliver power to our area.
As proposed, the towers stand up to 200 feet tall. The wood-pole lines already crossing these counties run about 70 feet. A mature oak tops out near 65. The corridors are not designed to deliver power to the communities they cross — and the data-center projects driving recent demand forecasts are separate proposals in separate proceedings.
One of the study areas shows the line travelling through, or extremely close to, the District’s 240-acre Preserve. This Preserve has been a contiguous 200-acre nature preserve for over 30 years. Our wetlands are vital networks for providing critical ecosystem services such as storing floodwaters, filtering harmful pollutants from surface runoff and sustaining rich regional biodiversity. Our woodland complexes are critical parts of our landscape for sustaining high biodiversity, regulating water cycles, and storing massive amounts of carbon. They provide essential migration corridors for wildlife while buffering ecosystems against climate and environmental stresses. Our prairies create essential spaces for wide-ranging wildlife, improving water storage and protecting native biodiversity. The Preserve is also an extremely important stop-over site for migrating birds.
The Lake Ripley Management District opposes this transmission line coming through Lake Ripley’s Watershed. The District has been diligently working towards our mission, which includes protecting the Lake Ripley watershed, for the last 35 years. The District’s residents, the State of Wisconsin, the federal government and many local, state or private organizations have supported the District over the years through grants, donations and in-kind services.
At this time, no final transmission route has been selected. The project team is evaluating broad study segments and seeking public input before developing preliminary route alternatives.
The Lake Ripley Management District encourages residents, landowners, farmers, and businesses to learn about the project, review the available information, and participate in the public input process.
Show up! It’s the most persuasive thing you can do. Contact your State Senator and Assembly Representative to let them know your stance on this issue. Show up to Public Service Commission meetings and public hearings which serves as the formal record. Attending a meeting or filing a comment is how people are heard.
Midwest Grid Solutions are asking for public feedback on the study segments by September 7th, 2026. You can mail your comments to Midcontinent Grid Solutions, LLC, 3902 Milwaukee Street, P.O. Box 7426, Madison, WI, 53714.
For Town of Oakland residents, contact Wisconsin Assembly District #46 – Representative Joan Fitzgerald: 608-237-9146 and [email protected] and Wisconsin State Senate District #16 – Senator Melissa Ratcliff: 608-266-9170 and [email protected].
Additional Information:
Residents are encouraged to review the available project information before attending the open house. The information below was provided by Midcontinent Grid Solutions.
Resources
Jefferson County staff and superviors are aware of this project, and provided the following information on their website dedicated to the BECI project.
Their website can be found here: https://www.jeffersoncountywi.gov/beci_line.php
Residents can receive updates, find an open house, view project map, and view the virtual open house at the BECI website(Opens in new window).
To assist residents in viewing the proposed routes, below is a link to Jefferson County’s BECI public GIS viewer with the proposed routes shown. NOTE: the interactive map on the BECI website allows for people to leave comments. This county map resource does not allow for comments and is not the official BECI map or data. The map is based on data provided from MSG. For official mapping and the most updated information, please refer to the MSG – BECI website.
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Click the image above to access the Jefferson County Web Map.
PSC: Transmission Line Review Process(Opens in new window)
This document from the PSC provides a timeline of the review process and opportunities to participate as a member of the public.
PSC/DNR: Application Filing Documents for Transmission Line Projects(Opens in new window)
This document lists information required for a complete application to construct a new electric transmission project that requires a CPCN. If this project reaches the stage for PSC review, the PSC will be evaluating the proposal against the criteria listed in this document. Jefferson County officials encourage residents to familiarize themselves with these criteria and to incorporate them into questions, comments, or testimony to MGS and PSC.
MISO Long Range Transmission Planning(Opens in new window)
The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) is the electric grid operator and for the central United States. MISO approved the BECI 765-kV project as part of its Tranche 2.1 approval in 2024 to address transmission needs within the MISO Midwest subregion. More information on MISO’s decision can be found at the link above.
FERC Docket EL25-109(Opens in new window)
After MISO approves a transmission line upgrade, the project enters the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) approval workflow. Under FERC Order No. 1920(Opens in new window), MISO must include sensitivity studies and benefit metrics – such as production cost savings, reliability benefits, reduced congestion, and resilience – over a 20-year horizon. After MISO files with FERC, FERC will conduct a technical and legal review of the project, cost-benefit rationale, and cost-allocation design. FERC will then issue a final order.
In July 2025, utility commissions from North Dakota, Montana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana filed a complaint(Opens in new window) under EL25-109, challenging MISO’s designation of Tranche 2.1 as “multi-value,” which triggered regional cost-sharing. MISO covers much of the upper Midwest and central United States. A neighboring independent system operator, known as PJM, covers the Ohio River valley and mid-Atlantic states. For the projects that connect into PJM’s territory, FERC has issued approval under Docket ER26-1538. However, Docket EL25-109, which contains the BECI 765-kV transmission line, remains open and unresolved.
This draft map was provided to the District on 9/11/2026 by Midcontinent Grid Solutions.
The Open House - Jefferson County
The Lake Ripley Management District would like to make residents and property owners aware of an upcoming public open house regarding the proposed Bell Center–Columbia–Sugar Creek–Illinois/Wisconsin State Line (BECI) 765-kV Transmission Project being developed by Midcontinent Grid Solutions.
The project is currently in the early planning and public input phase. The project developers are inviting the public to review project information, view study segment maps, ask questions, and provide comments before potential transmission routes are developed.
Jefferson County Open House
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
County Fairgrounds Activity center
503 N. Jackson Ave
Jefferson, WI, 53549
There is no formal presentation. Residents may attend at any time during the open house. Project representatives will be available throughout the event to answer questions, discuss the project, and receive public input. Detailed study-segment maps will be available for review.
Lake Ripley Management District's Level of Involvement
The Lake Ripley Management District Board of Directors does not have legal authority to regulate transmission lines. However, the District Board recognizes the significant environmental, cultural, agricultural, and scenic impacts of a project of this size. District officials and staff are also aware that the ability to advocate on behalf of the Board of Directors may have an additional impact above what can be accomplished by individual residents.
At this time, the District encourages residents to communicate directly with MGS through their listening sessions and website.
Lake Ripley Management District's Actions
- On August 26, the Jefferson County Executive Committee met with this issue on their agenda. The Lake Manager attended the meeting and provided public comment that was read into the meeting minutes.
- On August 31, the Lake Manager emailed Representative Fitzgerald and Senator Ratcliff urging them to get involved, and asking them to oppose this transmission line travelling through the Town of Oakland and Jefferson County.
- On September 1, 2026, the Lake Manager submitted an impact statement and added comments to the MGS map.
- On September 8, the Jefferson County Board met with this issue on their agenda. The Lake Manager submitted public comment on behalf of the Lake District and the Town of Oakland, opposing the line.
- On September 19, 2026, the Lake Ripley Management District Board voted 5-0 to adopt a resolution opposing the proposed Bell Center – Columbia – Sugar Creek – Illinois/Wisconsin State Line (BECI) 765-kV Competitive Transmission Line Project.