Power project protest outside Plymouth Utilities sends message: ‘We can’t quit’
Jan 09, 2025
Plymouth Utilities had people with picket signs lining its front lawn Thursday afternoon."No high voltage over me" and "My land, my choice" were among the messages the protesters were sending."I am a landowner on County Road V... been here for 27 years," said Joe Koenig. "They want to run high-tension wires right over our houses." Residents in and around Plymouth have been fighting a power initiative known as the Plymouth Reliability Project for about a year.They formed the group Neighbors4Neighbors (N4N) specifically for the cause.PREVIOUS COVERAGE:- A SHOCKING REALITY: Proposed power lines threaten multi-generational, award-winning farm- On the defense: Sheboygan County residents fight power company over property, environment- LISTEN UP: Sheboygan County residents speak out against proposed power line project- What the latest court ruling means for Sheboygan County residents fighting power project- Sheboygan Co power line project approved; Residents react to year-long fight, lostOn Dec. 12, power company ATC received approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to run transmission lines through nearly 50 properties."Just a big letdown."The project was requested by Plymouth Utilities to provide power to rural areas.Watch: Power project protest outside Plymouth Utilities sends message: Residents stand against Sheboygan power project"Yes, improve the state, but do it the right way. Talk to the people," Koenig said. "Its not fair. We dont have a choice. We dont have any say in the matter."On my way into the building, I was given a written statement on behalf of Plymouth, which read in part: Plymouth Utilities appreciates concerns associated with the construction of the new electric facilities and affirms its responsibility to provide safe, cost effective and reliable service to all customers."The most tragic part of this is peoples livelihoods are going to change," explained Koenig. Hes referring to people like Daniel Kraemer, a dairy farmer."When the preferred route went through, Jackie's and my heart just fell It hurt," he said, choking back tears. "Ive been living on this family farm all my lifethats 63 years. Its been in the family name for 89 years." Like other residents, the power line route will cross right through his property, less than 300 feet from his barn."At this rate, I will no longer be able to live where Im at," Kraemer noted. "I will not subject the dairy cows to stray voltage being that close to the line."So, N4N members say theyre trying to make their voices heard with the protestone against a power line backdrop depicting their likely future."We cant quit because the minute we quit, they won," said Kraemer. "If we can at least move a route or make a change, we did something."Its about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for TMJ4 on your device.Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip