Residents urge Vernon County to protect Driftless lands, cite EMF and erosion worries

Multiple Vernon County residents used the public comment period to press presenters to avoid routing the 765 kV line through the Driftless area and other sensitive watersheds. Monica Matos cited a 2022 PubMed review she said indicates low‑level electromagnetic field (EMF) effects on wildlife and argued the Driftless Region’s unique geology and biodiversity merit exclusion from major corridors. “There is enough evidence to indicate we may be damaging non human species at ecosystem and biosphere levels,” Matos said during her remarks.

Others raised concerns about herbicide use under expanded rights‑of‑way, erosion and the potential for increased runoff where many dams are being decommissioned. A resident who spoke in opposition summarized the sentiment: “If you are doing a 200 to 300 foot swipe on our area… and then you are putting herbicides under those power lines, you are actually doing the opposite of what we need our land owners to do to hold that soil.” Presenters responded that many of those environmental and archaeological studies are part of the CPCN environmental record and that state agencies (DNR, PSC) will review erosion, stormwater and site‑specific geology as part of permitting.

Why it matters: the Driftless area supports tourism, trout fisheries and farming; residents say a high‑voltage corridor and herbicide regimes could harm local economies and water quality. The project team said environmental study and micro‑siting decisions (structure placement and access roads) are intended to mitigate impacts and that landowners are consulted about herbicide applications.