The Maribell Project in Genoa, Wis., is drawing opposition from across the political spectrum as local residents and elected officials from both parties gather to strategize next steps.
Here's what to know
According to WKBT, the Maribell Project would build a 140-mile, 765-kilovolt transmission line from southeast Minnesota into southwest Wisconsin. Developers say it is needed to handle expected energy demand across the Midwest, while local communities contend that they would shoulder the disruption without receiving meaningful benefits.
That pushback has brought together an unusual coalition. Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden, who represents Wisconsin's 3rd District, told residents, "We don't get anything from this. And it will absolutely destroy the Driftless Region," WKBT reported.
More background
The project has raised disputes over land use, who bears the costs of major energy projects, and who ultimately benefits from them.
Beyond the line's scale, the Driftless Region views it as another case of rural communities being asked to host major infrastructure intended to serve demand elsewhere, as if their landscape and quality of life are somehow more disposable.
Erik Olsen, a lawyer for the Coalition Against Maribell, said, "If people want data centers, do it in a responsible way that doesn't basically make everything else unpleasant," per WKBT.
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What's being done?
The Coalition Against Maribell is also fighting the proposal in court, challenging whether the transmission line is actually needed.
At the same time, opponents plan to keep making their case to state lawmakers in Madison as they press their arguments against the project.
Democratic State Representative Tara Johnson has backed one response at the legislative level. She introduced a bill that would require transmission lines to be placed underground rather than overhead — an effort aimed at changing how future projects are routed through the region.
During the gathering, Johnson said, "I want to pledge to you that I'm going to keep doing everything I can to even that playing field and equip you with as many tools as I can do to even that playing field," WKBT reported.
Van Orden also underscored how unusual the coalition is, telling the crowd, "This is the most bipartisan issue I've ever come across ever. We live here in the Driftless Region on purpose."
Where can I learn more?
Similar fights over power infrastructure are playing out beyond Wisconsin borders.
• In rural Georgia, homeowners are resisting data center power lines that could cut across family land.
• In Maryland, farm families say a controversial transmission line backed by utilities could devastate them financially.
• In Wisconsin, critics warn new legislation will spike energy costs as utilities pursue gas expansion.
• In New Jersey, officials launched a nearly billion-dollar power grid update in 2023 to expand capacity and reliability.
• In Scotland, regulators approved a multi-billion-pound electricity superhighway to move renewable power nationwide.
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