Cardinal Hickory Power Line’s Wisconsin Refuge Crossing Rejected

A $500 million power transmission line isn’t compatible with the purposes of a wildlife and fish refuge, a Wisconsin judge ruled after saying the federal government and utilities were playing a “shell game” by “cavalierly” revoking permits.

American Transmission Co., Dairyland Power Cooperative, and ITC Midwest originally sought a right of way allowing the Cardinal Hickory Creek project to cross the refuge from both the Iowa and Wisconsin sides. The utilities later sought a land transfer instead because the right of way decision would “take too long.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service next withdrew its finding that the project ...