We know the process of identifying potential routes for new electric transmission lines is a sensitive one. We follow a careful and deliberate process that provides guidance for identifying and analyzing options for siting and routing transmission lines. Through input we receive from agencies, the public, communities and
landowners, we consider options that are appropriate for the location and issues associated with a particular project. Be assured that we are committed to finding the best solution, and following a fair and inclusive process.

BALANCING ROUTING CONSIDERATIONS
Developing routes that might be suitable for transmission lines requires a balanced look at a variety of factors. Landowner and community input is always taken into consideration and evaluated with the impacts of available alternatives. Transmission line routing may involve trade-offs between a particular set of advantages
and disadvantages. ATC looks for routes that balance community input with environmental impacts, constructability, current and future land use, project cost and specific electric system needs. We will propose a project that addresses an electric system need for all customers in an area and also reduces local impacts
to the extent possible. ATC considers and balances many issues and factors, including:

Local land use and development plans, including areas designated for specific future uses
County and state road expansion plans
Terrain and obstacle considerations, including streams and railroad crossings, embankments,
bridges and soil conditions such as wetlands or bedrock
Community and landowner impacts
Natural resources, including wetlands, woodlands and wildlife areas
Archeological and agricultural resources
Length of the route and project costs
Electric system performance

ROUTING CRITERIA
State policy on new transmission line routing specifically requires that we begin by considering existing corridors such as existing utility lines, natural gas pipelines, roads and railroads before looking at other areas and corridors.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROCESS
At ATC, we use an open and interactive approach that involves gathering information and asking for public feedback at four distinct phases of project development.

Phase 1:

Once we have determined the end points (usually two substations) for a new transmission line, we begin with a study area that is usually a large geographic area from which we'll identify potential corridors that may be suitable for a transmission line.

Phase 2: Preliminary corridors

Based on routing criteria, preliminary corridors are identified after reviewing the study area and receiving input from communities. We identify several corridors (can be several hundred feed wide or more) between the end points that may be suitable for a transmission line route, but at this point the corridors have not yet been thoroughly evaluated. These preliminary corridors represent opportunities to rule in or rule out possible routes, and are presented to the public for discussion and input.

Phase 3: Proposed route options

It may take several months to move from preliminary corridors to proposed route options. The proposed routes represent those that are "still on the table" and include a more defined, narrow set of the preliminary corridors than those introduced during phase 2. The proposed routes have been evaluated more thoroughly and are likely to be considered for the project.

Phase 4: Final proposed routes

These are the routes (two or more) that have been identified based on environmental and land use consideration, suitability for construction, public acceptance, cost and electric system needs. These routes are formally presented in the construction application that ATC submits to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for authorization. ATC is required to submit at least two possible routes along with supporting environmental, engineering and construction information. We sometimes recommend a particular route which we designate as the preferred route. However, the PSC does not consider our designation in their analysis.

At each of the four stages, we contact local officials, community organizations, landowners and the news media to provide the latest developments of the project and offer opportunities for public feedback. Once the PSC receives ATC’s construction application, the PSC will evaluate whether the project is needed, hold a public hearing and decide where to site the line. The PSC route decision may or may not be the route that we recommend and may include some additional minor changes to the route. In the route development process, new information may require us to add new route segments to our project map or to reconsider a route segment that had been eliminated earlier. For this reason, we encourage all landowners to follow project developments until completion of the regulatory review process. Our routing activities and decisions are available at open house events, on our Web site and through local news outlets.At ATC, we use an open and interactive approach that involves gathering information and asking for public feedback at four distinct phases of project development.

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