As noted above, MISO’s membership includes ATC, Dairyland Power Cooperative, and ITC Midwest, regional transmission companies that stand to benefit from the guaranteed 10%+ rate-of-return from building the high-voltage Cardinal-Hickory Creek line.

 

In 2011, MISO established a “Multi-Value Project” (“MVP”) portfolio that included 17 lines, the last of which to be built is the Cardinal-Hickory Creek line.  When MISO established the need for the 17 lines, it did not do so on a line-by-line basis.  Rather, it used projected demand and energy growth rates for the entire MISO region, that is, 17 separate projects.

 

This approach ignores the fact that projected demand and energy growth rates differ across the region.  Wisconsin’s situation is very different from that of Arkansas or North Dakota. (Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) report to Wisconsin policymakers and concerned public, October 16, 2016, p. 19)