Following a decade-long journey, the 102-mile, 345 kV Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line was placed in service in September 2024. The American Clean Power Association (ACP) and Clean Grid Alliance (CGA) recently held a Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line project celebration at Madison (Wis.) College. Dairyland EVP & COO Ben Porath participated in the event, along with project co-owners ITC Midwest and ATC. 

ACP & CGA have released a project video from the event, which recognizes the importance of Cardinal-Hickory Creek for reliability and the delivery of renewable energy to the region. 

“The Cardinal-Hickory Creek power line is immensely important for grid reliability and, with the ability to support 24 gigawatts of new renewable energy facilities, the clean energy transition,” said Porath. “The line brings additional environmental benefits by adding highly desirable land and reducing the transmission infrastructure within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.”  

Cardinal-Hickory Creek completion celebration video