Power lines don’t belong in these wetlands or trails

By Mary C. Fritz and Peter J. Fritz, of Williamston

The 50-mile Oneida-Sabine Lake transmission line proposed by the foreign firm Fortis/ITC Holdings poses a severe threat to Ingham County’s natural and economic assets. 

ITC’s four proposed electric powerline baseline routes require clear-cutting a 200-foot-wide swath through the mature wooded wetlands of the Red Cedar River Water Trail. 

This will trigger severe soil compaction, riverbank erosion, old-growth canopy fragmentation, and permanent avian collision hazards for migrating birds. Conversely, a route south of I-96, in a non-forested area, substantially reduces these environmental impacts. 

The stakes are highly financial. 

Using national data, I estimate the annual return on equity of ITC to be $13 million dollars. Conversely, our Michigan state-designated Red Cedar River Water Trail is an economic engine. Based on benchmarks from the nearby Huron River, the Red Cedar trail is projected to generate $15 million in annual tourism spending, boosting local restaurants, hotels, and shops from Williamston to Lansing. 

Over the last decade, Ingham County taxpayers have decisively voted for 0.5-mil tax referendums to invest $44 million into trail infrastructure, leading to $2 million specifically for the Ingham County river launch and rapid projects. 

This recreational trail system connects to a 275-mile inland waterway linking to Grand Rapids and Lake Michigan. 

We must protect our taxpayer investments and pristine 100-year-old river corridors. 

Any route through the Red Cedar River Water Trail will erode Ingham County’s Water Trail’s $15 million revenue so Fortis/ITC can pocket $13 million. 

Oppose ITC’s proposed destruction of our recreational gem, the Red Cedar River Water Trail.