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Interview
With SOUL Activist
Below is an interview by Socialist Action newspaper with
Beth Aker, an activist with the group Save Our Unique Lands and a student
at UWS.
Socialist Action: Tell us a little bit about the Arrowhead-Weston power
line and what the history of this project is?
Beth: The Arrowhead-Weston is not a power line,
but a bulk transmission line hoping to serve southeastern Wisconsin's
"future energy needs". If built, it would run between
Duluth, Minnesota and Wausau, Wisconsin bringing energy from the ecological
disaster known as Manitoba Hydro. In 1999, American Transmission
Company (ATC) got the line approved by the Public Service Commission (PSC)
at $165 million over the opposition of the Department of Natural Resources
(DNR), the National Park Service (NPS), Save Our Unique Lands (SOUL), and
thousands of citizens who all projected the cost of the project to be $400
million. ATC was forced to return to the PSC one year later when
costs went up and subsequently raised to $420 million. ALL other
options were now cheaper than the Arrowhead-Weston. In the
beginning, the DNR testified that the Arrowhead-Weston was the "most
environmentally damaging project to ever come before them for a
permit." And yet today, in 2005, it is still an
issue.
Socialist Action: How did you come to get involved in this fight?
Beth: When the project was first introduced in 1999, it
was routed through my uncle's six-generation farm. I did my homework
and learned about the issue but soon moved out of state. When I
returned home, the fight was still going strong. I could not believe
something so obviously devastating was still on the tables of
discussion. The route had changed and was not planned to cross my
relatives' land, but I was still greatly concerned. I joined SOUL and
became active in the fight. Once I was informed, I wanted
nothing more than to be involved. Eyes that are opened are
unable to be closed.
Socialist Action: I understand the driving force in this fight to have
been a determined group of local farmers and landowners, but that recently
a number of students have gotten involved. Why do you think that this
is an important issue for young people to be concerned about?
Beth: Northern Wisconsin is slated to become an energy
corridor for this money-hungry, Enron-type deregulation. Utilities have
never been able to operate like ATC has and that threatens both our energy
reliability and our quality of life here. We (young people) are the
future generation and it is we that will face the degradation, the
environmental, the health, and the financial consequences if the
Arrowhead-Weston Transmission Line, or others like it, are ever
built. We have the power to change the way things are done.
Socialist Action: What are some of the things that students and other
activists have done to try and stop this line?
Beth: First, we became educated and informed on the
issue. We then hosted rallies in the area, attended local
meetings, involved ourselves in events, participated in
fundraisers, sponsored informational meetings on and off campus, arranged
discussions with the media, and distributed the truth to fellow students
and citizens.
Socialist Action: Recently the power line project suffered a major defeat
when the Douglas County Board refused to allow it to build on its
land. Considering how so many other government bodies have buckled to
ATC bribes and pressure, what made Douglas County different?
Beth: The reality of it is that Douglas County is in a unique
position with its 300,000-acre forest guarding its southern border.
This required ATC (regardless of the route) to try and go through Douglas
County forestland. Plus, they also had a spokesman on the board that
was able to offset ATC's pressure and supply true information to
the County Board that others never received.
Socialist Action: The American Transmission Company has responded to
its recent rebuff at the hands of the Douglas County Board by saying that
this decision will only result in more farmers and private landowners having
their land seized for the line. What do you say to that?
Beth: The vote against ATC actually saved 35 miles
of private land (on which several hundred farmers and landowners live) from
being impacted. The line CANNOT be built without permission from the
Douglas County Board who already voted twice to say NO to the
Arrowhead-Weston.
Socialist Action: The Feb. 2 Board decision was definitely a victory
for opponents of the line. But is the fight now over? What comes
next?
Beth: The fight will be over when the true cost of the line
makes it apparent that other alternatives are better. The estimated
cost is believed to reach $550 million - which is far too much money!
ATC will either have to go back to the PSC for a reroute, try to change the
laws, or quit.
Socialist Action: Is there anything else that you would like
to share with our readers about this fight?
Beth: I can tell you that it is no longer about
politics. The Attorney General of Wisconsin recently said that
EVERYTHING is now for sale in Madison. The corruption of the DNR, the
NPS, the PSC, the legislators, and the governor reflect the true story
of the Arrowhead-Weston. Money buys all but the Douglas County Board.
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