Giant transmission lines would ruin unique Driftless Region

The word 'driftless' has been associated with everything from coffee to beer to cafes. But what does it mean? The Driftless Region was named because glaciers never covered the area during the last Ice Age and thus did not leave any 'drift.' The glaciers that came down and scoured out the upper Midwest did not cover this region, leaving high ridges and deep valleys undisturbed. No place in North America is quite like the Driftless Region that encompasses a good portion of southwest Wisconsin. The beauty and unique geology and topography of the region provide a home to many flowers and critters not found elsewhere. Two proposed 765 kV transmission lines (called MariBell and BECI) could change that. Do we need to sacrifice this unique and wonderful area to the gods of greed? The towers could soar 200 feet in the air and clear a swath of land 250 feet wide, requiring the cutting of many acres of forests. How much of this power is needed, and will it be used in Wisconsin? Are we willing to sacrifice a region of Wisconsin that held back the glaciers eons ago to now be destroyed by soaring transmission lines of questionable need? If the lines are built, there is no going back. What is lost in the Driftless Region cannot be replaced. This is not just a few landowners saying, 'Not in my backyard.' It should be all of us saying, "Not in our backyard." Linda and Tim Eisele, MadisonGet opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!