LANSING, MI (WTVB) – Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved the Helix-Hiple transmission line, a 55-mile, 345-kilovolt project set to cut through Branch County, connecting the Michigan-Indiana border to the new Helix Substation in Calhoun County. The decision, part of a $850 million grid modernization effort led by ITC Holdings Corp.’s subsidiary, Michigan Electric Transmission Company (METC), sparked significant opposition from Branch County residents, particularly farmers and landowners. Despite their concerns, the MPSC moved forward, citing the line’s importance for enhancing grid reliability and supporting renewable energy integration, with construction planned between 2029 and 2030.
Branch County residents, have voiced strong objections, focusing on the use of eminent domain and the potential disruption to agricultural land and centennial farms. Critics argue that ITC’s compensation offers for land acquisition are inadequate and fail to account for long-term impacts like soil compaction and reduced property values. Community members also criticized ITC’s public engagement as insufficient, a sentiment echoed by MPSC Commissioner Katherine Peretick, who called the company’s outreach efforts “lackluster” and pushed for improved communication in future projects.
Despite these concerns, the MPSC selected a route designed to minimize environmental and residential impacts, avoiding sensitive wetlands and archeological sites. However, the approval has left many residents feeling unheard, prompting the MPSC to direct staff to develop new guidelines for transmission projects to ensure better community involvement. As ITC prepares for construction, it has committed to ongoing negotiations with landowners, but tensions remain high in Branch County, where residents fear the project’s long-term effects on their livelihoods and heritage.
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