The 765 kV Line in Columbia County — No 765 Line
The 765 kV line in Columbia County
Yes; Columbia County is inside the official study area for BECI, a proposed 765,000-volt transmission line. No route has been chosen yet, and no application has been filed. The developer has published 78 candidate study segments, and its announced comment window on them closed September 7, 2026, though comments can still be sent to the company.
Columbia County outlined, with BECI's published study area and study segments. Source: Midcontinent Grid Solutions (mgs-projects.com), captured August 2026. A study segment is not a chosen route.
What is being proposed here?
What is happening right now?
- MGS held its Columbia County open house at Whispering Pines in Poynette on August 25. The developer's open-house round ended August 27; written comments on the study segments are still being accepted.
- The developer's announced comment window on its 78 study segments closed September 7, 2026. Comments can still be sent to the company.
Who here is on the record?
- Columbia County — Resolution opposing BECI greenfield routes (38-26), adopted Aug 19, 2026 (Signed resolution (PDF))
- Columbia County — Resolution opposing the BECI line as proposed and asking MGS for a public feedback window through at least May 2027 (43-26, as amended), adopted Sep 16, 2026 (County board resolution (PDF))
- Town of Caledonia — Resolution opposing the BECI line through the town (R-2026.0831), adopted Aug 31, 2026 (Town board resolution (PDF))
- Town of Dekorra — Resolution opposing the BECI line and its greenfield routes through the town (TBR-2026-03), adopted Sep 1, 2026 (Town board resolution (PDF))
- Town of Hampden — Resolution opposing the proposed BECI routing through the town where alternatives exist (2026-09-04), adopted Sep 4, 2026 (Town board resolution (PDF))
- Town of Lodi — Resolution opposing any BECI route through the town and requesting project information from MGS (2026-03), adopted Sep 2, 2026 (Town board resolution (PDF))
- Town of Lowville — Resolution opposing the BECI line and finding that its need has not been adequately demonstrated (2026-02), adopted Sep 2, 2026 (Town board resolution (PDF))
- Town of West Point — Resolution opposing any BECI route through the town (2026-08-13A), adopted Aug 13, 2026 (Town board resolution (PDF))
- Sauk Prairie School District Board of Education (school board) — Resolution opposing the BECI line within district boundaries and requesting landowner-impact information from MGS, adopted Aug 24, 2026 (School board resolution (PDF))
- School District of Lodi Board of Education (school board) — Resolution titled as opposing proposed BECI routes through the district, resolving to request route-selection rationale, alternatives, existing-corridor analysis and cost information from MGS, adopted Sep 14, 2026 (School board resolution (PDF))
- Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway (organization) — Board resolution opposing the BECI line anywhere in the Lower Wisconsin River Basin and requesting impact information from MGS, adopted Sep 10, 2026 (Board resolution (PDF))
Local businesses on the record
3 Columbia County businesses on the record.
- Creek Bed Farmacy Lowville
- Do-All Construction of Lodi Inc West Point
- Natural Care, LLC Lodi
What can I do?
How do I connect locally?
County organizing is just getting started here. Local contacts and ways to connect in Columbia County will be added to this page as they become available. Joining the email list is the best way to hear when that happens.
Common questions
No. The developer has published a study area and 78 study segments, not a route. A route only becomes real if the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin grants a permit, in a proceeding expected to begin in early 2027.
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, through a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity proceeding. The public can participate at every stage.