The 765 kV Line in Richland County — No 765 Line

No 765 Line, Inc. · A Wisconsin 501(c)(3) · Sourced. Coordinated.
Wisconsin PSC · MariBell fall 2026 · BECI early 2027

The 765 kV line in Richland County

Yes; Richland 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 public comments on them are open until September 7, 2026.

Updated August 20, 2026

Richland 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?

Project
BECI (Bell Center to the Illinois state line, ~190 miles)
Source: Midcontinent Grid Solutions
Developer
Midcontinent Grid Solutions, a Transource Energy and BHE Transmission joint venture
Source: MGS project site
Status
Route study; PSC application expected early 2027
Source: MGS project schedule
Line type
765 kV, the largest transmission class in the country; towers 150 to 200 feet
Source: See The 765 Line, explained

What is happening right now?

  • MGS is holding a Richland County open house at Richland Center High School on August 24; details are on our events calendar.
  • Comments on the developer's 78 study segments are open until September 7, 2026.

What have local governments here said?

  • Richland County — Information-request resolution (26-7), adopted Mar 17, 2026 (County board minutes (PDF))
  • Town of Dayton — Information-request resolution, considering
  • Town of Forest — Information-request resolution (R 2025-01), adopted Dec 19, 2025 (Town resolutions page)
  • Town of Richwood — Resolution opposing the line (2026-002), adopted Aug 10, 2026 (Town board resolution (PDF))

See the statewide tracker

Local businesses on the record

11 Richland County businesses on the record.

  • Amber Ewing Creations Richland Center
  • Barelli Family Farm Dayton
  • Bull's Ranch, LLC Cazenovia
  • Dayton Ridge Farm Dayton
  • Parker Family Farmstead & FarmerSown Market Viola
  • Parker Pole Buildings LLC Viola
  • Residential Roofing of Southwest Wisconsin Richland Center
  • Richland Locker Richland Center
  • Rose Whitewashing Akan
  • Wholeview Farm Viola
  • Wild Rose’s Farm & Bakery LLC Akan

See the statewide roster, or add your business

What can I do?

How do I connect locally?

County organizing is just getting started here. Local contacts and ways to connect in Richland 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

Is a route through Richland County already decided?

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.

Who decides whether this gets built?

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, through a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity proceeding. The public can participate at every stage.