What can I do to help stop this unnecessary, costly, and environmentally damaging line?

1) Educate yourself. Groups you can contact are listed below.

Driftless Defenders is a grassroots coalition of citizens dedicated to preventing the construction of high voltage transmission lines through the geologically unique Driftless Area of Wisconsin. This grassroots group was formed in May 2016 by neighbors in the Pleasant Ridge area of Dodgeville Township and has rapidly expanded to include people from many townships. Through their outreach and media efforts they are informing the public about the transmission lines proposal and explaining the reasons for their opposition. www.driftlessdefenders.com We also have videos on You Tube you can feel free to share click here: YouTube link
Driftless Area Land Conservancy (DALC) is a land trust organization based in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. Its purpose is to maintain and enhance the health, diversity and beauty of Southwest Wisconsin’s natural and agricultural landscape through permanent land protection and restoration, and improve people’s lives by connecting them to the land and to each other. DALC opposes construction of the transmission lines since they will negatively impact the qualities they are mandated to preserve. To help devise a strategy to prevent construction of the lines they have retained the services of the Environmental Law and Policy Center and hired a community organizer. www.driftlessconservancy.org
Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) is the Midwest’s leading public interest environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation organization, and among the nation’s leaders. They develop and lead successful strategic advocacy campaigns to improve environmental quality and protect our natural resources. They, under the leadership of executive director and attorney, Howard Learner, have been retained by Driftless Area Land Conservancy (DALC) to guide them in their opposition to the transmission lines. www.elpc.org
S.O.U.L. of Wisconsin (Save Our Unique Lands) is a non-profit grassroots organization whose mission is to promote efficient and responsible management of electrical power for the public good, while protecting the natural, social and economic environments and citizens of Wisconsin. http://www.soulwisconsin.org/
Bakke, G. (2016) The Grid: The fraying wires between Americans and our energy future. Bloomsbury, USA
Madison Gas & Electric scores low on a new “energy report card” released by local utility watchdog RePower Madison.
Decoding the Driftless is a film that explores the rugged Driftless Region, with its fascinating geology, rare habitats and unique archeology https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/decoding-the-driftless-a-documentary-film-nature#/
Responsible Electricity Transmission for Albertans’ (RETA) mission is to ensure that whenever new high voltage transmission lines are built near schools, homes, daycare centres, hospitals and environmentally sensitive areas, they must be buried. http://retasite.wordpress.com/latest-news/
The Power Line Blog (Bill Howley) http://calhounpowerline.com/

2) Tell everyone you know about the transmission lines. The power companies are only required to notify people living within 300 feet of the proposed lines. Consequently, many people are not informed about a project that will negatively impact them and their community. If you would like handouts to distribute contact info@driftlessdefenders.com.

3) Join Driftless Defenders – a coalition of citizens dedicated to protecting the geologically unique Driftless Area from the construction of high voltage transmission lines. Work with like-minded people and use your skills to help us oppose the transmission lines. www.driftlessdefenders.com

4) Write Letters to the Editor of your local paper and other papers. It will help to keep the transmission line issue in the minds of the public. It will help educate them. By reading letters written from different perspectives, the public will learn the many various reasons why people oppose the lines.

Suggested topics are: lack of need, expense, damage to the environment (farmland, vegetation, wildlife, groundwater, wetlands, historic and native American sites, recreation etc), negative impact on tourism, lowering of property values, better alternatives for providing energy, concerns about livestock, destruction of the beauty of our scenic landscapes, change to our rural way of life, need for a cost/benefit analysis.

5) Place a banner or yard sign on your property opposing the high-voltage transmission line (contact info@driftlessdefenders.com)

6) Place a sticker opposing the high-voltage transmission lines on your car or in a window. (contact info@driftlessdefenders.com)

7) Educate businesses you frequent about the transmission lines and ask them if they would be willing to display posters or handouts opposing them. (contact info@driftlessdefenders.com)

8) Request a speaker to make a presentation to your group. (contact info@driftlessdefenders.com)

9) Volunteer to help with lobbying efforts to educate and gain support from elected officials. It’s important to understand that policies regarding power plants, transmission lines, rates, fees, energy efficiency, and solar rebate programs are state approved, rather than federally approved.

10) Contact your representatives – Let them know you are opposed to the transmission lines and explain your reasons. Ask them to use their influence to convince the Wisconsin Public Service Commission not to approve the Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line project.

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