Court Weighs Midwest Transmission Line Crossing Wildlife Refuge

A three-judge appeals court panel in Chicago on Wednesday questioned transmission developers’ decision to move forward on a 102-mile, $500 million high-voltage electric transmission line proposed to carry wind-rich Midwest power east to consumers amid challenges over its crossing of a wildlife refuge.

But judges with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit also expressed doubt about conservation groups’ arguments that a transmission line could never run through a wildlife refuge.

The lawsuit is a closely watched case as the Biden administration, state officials, and energy analysts all say more transmission will be needed to move renewable power ...