The Xcel Ten Mile Creek Project is a serious concern for many St. Croix County residents. While large energy projects are regulated by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin under Wisconsin Statute §196.491, it is not accurate to suggest the County’s role is “limited.”
Under Section 66.0401 of the Wisconsin Statutes, the County retains real authority due to the Xcel Ten Mile Creek Project’s negative impacts to area resident’s health, safety and welfare.
Just as important, the County has a formal voice in the state decision-making process. St. Croix County can—and should—take an active intervening role before the PSC to ensure local concerns are not an afterthought, but part of the official record shaping the final decision.
That matters for residents concerned about:
• Property rights: Ensuring impacts to neighboring landowners are fully documented and addressed
• Water quality: Using Wisconsin Statute § 59.692 and local ordinances to support expert testimony on runoff, erosion, and groundwater risks
• Noise and quality of life: Applying local zoning standards to address equipment noise and impacts on nearby homes
• Long-term responsibility: Under County zoning ordinances, this requires decommissioning plans, financial guarantees, and soil restoration—so future taxpayers aren’t left with the cleanup
Framing the County’s role as “limited” creates a passive approach. In reality, the County has both the authority and the obligation to act—locally under 66.0401 due to health hazards and at the state level by formally intervening to advocate for its residents.
The question isn’t whether the County has a role. It’s whether it is willing to use every tool available—including its voice before the PSC—to protect the people it represents.