Legislation that would have allowed Wisconsin utility companies to continue building new power lines in Wisconsin, passed the Assembly but failed to get Senate approval before the end of the session.

The legislation would have given owners of transmission lines in the state the right of first refusal to build new lines that connect to their existing infrastructure. It came after the Midwest grid operator approved $10 billion in work on new transmission lines over the next decade, with about $2 billion in Wisconsin.

The bill would have boosted the reliability of Wisconsin’s electrical grid and preserved the authority of the state’s Public Service Commission to decide who can own and operate the infrastructure rather than ceding control to out-of-state regulators. It would also have allowed Wisconsin utilities and their shareholders to enjoy the economic benefits associated with building and operating transmission infrastructure.

Groups supporting the bill include multiple utilities, Wisconsin Utility Investors, labor unions and local economic development organizations. Also lobbying for the bill was American Transmission Co., or ATC, which owns and operates much of Wisconsin’s transmission line system. Those opposed to the bill included consumer advocacy groups, like AARP and the Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin, as well as Clean Wisconsin and several other conservative groups.