Federal Judge Halts Completion of $650 Million Power Line Across Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge.

A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction preventing the completion of a disputed $650 million high-voltage transmission line across the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The order prevents utilities ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power Cooperative from acquiring needed right of way from the federal government to construct the final segment of the power line. The utilities have completed all but 2.2 miles of the 102-mile Cardinal-Hickory Creek power line and plan to complete a land exchange with the Fish and Wildlife Service to gain easements needed to cross the federally protected refuge.