CONTACT:
Brian Knox
414-276-6237
Monica Van Aken, Head of School for Milwaukee Montessori School and a member of Bury the Lines neighborhood group opposing overhead power lines and supporting their placement underground along 95th Street, today issued the following statement regarding the American Transmission Company’s filing with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission:
“While we support the need for more power, we are very disappointed that ATC chose to present recommendations to the PSC that include putting high-voltage power lines over our neighborhood, school and church. Stringing 138,000 volts of electricity over the heads of our community is not a viable option, nor does it reflect our neighborhood’s strong opposition to overhead power lines and the community’s desire to have them buried along 95th Street instead.
“We are bothered that ATC’s final recommendations do not address the very vocal and repeated concerns expressed at community meetings and public hearings by hundreds of neighbors, St. Therese Catholic Church parishioners, schoolchildren and their parents who want the high-voltage lines buried. Despite our repeated attempts to work with ATC, the company has chosen to ignore the community’s numerous concerns over the negative impact overhead lines will have on neighborhood health, safety and property values.
“It is truly disappointing to know while we have been willing to work with ATC and support the need for more power, our steadfast opposition to overhead lines in our neighborhood continues to be ignored. We value the character and quality of life in our neighborhood, and ATC’s march to put dangerous and unhealthy power lines over our heads rather than underground will ruin this thriving area.
“Our elected leaders in Milwaukee and Milwaukee County have also taken a strong and overwhelming stand passing resolutions telling ATC to bury the lines along 95th Street. Wauwatosa leaders have also expressed their opposition to overhead high-voltage lines.
“Rest assured, we will take our message to the PSC in the coming weeks and months. The PSC will hear directly from our neighborhood and others. Our message to ATC and the PSC remains loud and clear – Bury the lines along 95th Street.”
