“We are pleased the eastern segment of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek line has been placed in service,” American Transmission Co. Project Manager Jake Valentine said in a statement.

“This allows the project to begin to provide numerous benefits for electric consumers.” The project was approved by the Midwest grid operator in 2011. It received approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in September 2019, and the Iowa Utilities Board in May 2020.

Since then, the line has faced multiple legal challenges from environmental groups, who argued the project threatened the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin and the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge. The 345-kilovolt line — running from Dubuque County, Iowa, to Dane County — is critical to delivering cost-effective renewable energy to customers. The 102-mile line is co-owned by American Transmission Co., ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power Cooperative. The portion of the line that runs from a substation near Middleton to a substation near Monfort became operational on December 7th.