ANR Pipeline has picked up landowner support for its suitagainst the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) that chargesthe PSC unlawfully kept secret filings made by Wisconsin Gas forits competing Guardian Pipeline.

Neighbors Standing United is a group of Wisconsin 160 landownersalong the proposed Guardian route petitioning Wisconsin CircuitCourt to intervene in ANR’s suit against the PSC. The landowners,led by Weenonah Brattset, own anywhere from one acre to 1,000acres, Brattset said. “Every single landowner in our group isprepared to take this all the way through the courts tocondemnation. If this [Guardian] pipeline is permitted, we would goin and appeal our property tax assessments be reduced to reflectthe decrease in the value of our lands because of the pipeline.”

Brattset said her group feels Guardian is unnecessary becausethe area already has pipeline infrastructure, namely ANR’s. She andNeighbors Standing also question who would end up paying forGuardian. Their bet is it would be ratepayers.

Last month ANR filed suit against the PSC in Dane County, WI,Circuit Court (See Daily GPI July 26, 1999). ANR wants the court toreverse and set aside PSC orders conditionally approving Guardian.ANR seeks remanding of the case and the opportunity to intervene ina contested case hearing.

Guardian would be a 147-mile interstate from the Chicago hub toWatertown, WI. Wisconsin Gas is proposing a 35-mile lateral toconnect its system to Guardian in the Milwaukee area. The pipeline,which would compete against ANR, is expected to cost $230 millionand the lateral $45 million. Wisconsin Gas would own 30% of thepipeline and 100% of the lateral. Guardian owned by Wisconsin Gasparent WICOR, CMS Energy, and Viking Gas Transmission .

Brattset said her group was formed about two years ago to opposethe then prospective Viking Voyageur pipeline. “We have just kindof stayed in touch ever since expecting something like this,” shesaid. The group doesn’t have much of a war chest, she said, but isplanning to build one up. “We are beginning again.”

Wisconsin gas spokesman Dave Fantle said his company’s positionon Guardian has not changed. “The route is still not cast in stone.We’ve had very proactive communication as it pertains to thelandowners, public officials and the news media.”

Wisconsin gas has a precedent agreement with Guardian for 650MMcf/d of firm capacity that would displace capacity held byWisconsin Gas on ANR. ANR maintains it can more cheaply build anynew capacity needed to meet the needs of Wisconsin Gas and othersin Wisconsin.

ANR says the cost of the redundant Guardian and the lateralwould be unfairly borne by ratepayers, to the tune of $175 millionover 10 years. Wisconsin Gas says the project would save ratepayers$100 million over its first 10 years. ANR says the project wouldresult in “significant, unnecessary environmental disturbances andlandowner disruption.”

The PSC refused to allow ANR to participate in Guardianproceedings, denied ANR access to documents and secretlyconditionally approved the precedent agreement “based onself-serving conclusory statements by WGC concerning the benefitsof the Guardian Project,” ANR says.

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