Jerry Zelenka, a 75-year-old Wisconsin homeowner, is resisting American Transmission Co.'s proposal to build a power line through his property near Port Washington. ATC has offered $81,000 for the land and structures that would be affected by the new route, including the removal of six buildings and trees, as well as the installation of a 130-foot transmission tower near Zelenka's driveway. Zelenka built his property over three decades, turning raw land into a home surrounded by various outbuildings and mature trees, which he values far beyond the compensation offered. He argues that losing these elements would significantly diminish his property’s value and questions how he could rebuild or relocate at his age.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Jerry Zelenka, a 75-year-old homeowner in Fredonia, Wisconsin, is fighting against American Transmission Co.'s (ATC) proposal to build a new power line route across his property. The proposed plan would clear a 1,000-foot by 75-foot corridor, remove six structures on Zelenka's land, and install a 130-foot transmission tower near his driveway. ATC has offered the homeowner $81,000 for the use of his property but Zelenka is unwilling to accept this offer, intending instead to challenge the plan through legal means.
The proposed power line is associated with a planned data center in nearby Port Washington and would dramatically alter Zelenka's property, which he has built up over 35 years into a home surrounded by trees, barns, and working outbuildings. The current proposal follows an earlier application that the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin rejected as incomplete, after which ATC submitted revised plans and routes.
This dispute highlights tensions between personal property rights and large-scale infrastructure development needs for emerging industries like data centers.
Written for “Data Center Power Line Dispute” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
For more than three decades, Jerry Zelenka and his wife have built their Wisconsin property piece by piece, turning raw land into a home surrounded by trees, barns and working outbuildings.
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Zelenka → build → trees
Now, a proposed transmission line tied to a planned data center in nearby Port Washington could dramatically alter the property, leaving the 75-year-old homeowner facing the prospect of losing much of what he spent years creating.
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he → propose → years
The Fredonia homeowner says American Transmission Co. has proposed a new route across his property, including a cleared corridor, the removal of six structures and a 130-foot transmission tower near his driveway.
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Co. → say → driveway
He intends to challenge the plan rather than voluntarily accept the terms, states an online report by Washington County Insider.
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report → intend → Insider
A new Route, a bigger dispute
The current proposal follows an earlier application that the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin rejected as incomplete, according to Zelenka.
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Commission → follow → Zelenka
ATC subsequently submitted a new application featuring revised plans and routes.
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ATC → submit → plans
Under the latest proposal, Zelenka's property would sit along the route now being considered.
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property → sit → route
The planned transmission corridor would stretch roughly 1,000 feet by 75 feet across his land, requiring substantial clearing of trees and vegetation.
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corridor → stretch → trees
The affected area includes a shed, chicken coop, hog barn, barn, garage and machine shed.
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area → include → shed
Mature cedars, oaks, ash, elm and black walnut trees would also be removed as part of the proposed clearing.
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cedars → remove → clearing
The cost of giving up the land
According to Zelenka, ATC has offered $81,000 to compensate for the buildings and property impacts.
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ATC → give → impacts
An additional one-time payment of $50,000 is being offered if he signs an agreement at this stage.
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he → offer → stage
For Zelenka, the proposed compensation does not come close to replacing what would be lost.
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what → propose → Zelenka
He questions how the property could retain its current value with a large transmission tower and high-voltage infrastructure positioned close to the house, states the online report.
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report → question → house
The proposal would leave the home standing while stripping away much of the surrounding infrastructure that has defined the property for decades.
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that → leave → decades
At his age, Zelenka says rebuilding the structures or relocating is not a realistic option.
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rebuilding → say → structures
A property built over decades
The dispute carries particular weight because of the history behind the property.
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dispute → build → property
Zelenka and his wife purchased the land on Highway A in the winter of 1990.
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Zelenka → purchase → 1990
They cleared the site, sourced timber and built their home themselves, initially living in a shed while construction continued.
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construction → clear → shed
Over the years, the couple planted hundreds of trees through a state Department of Natural Resources programme and added buildings to the property.
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couple → plant → property
Some of the timber used in the barn came from century-old cedar logs Zelenka obtained locally.
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Zelenka → use → logs
It represents decades of work and investment.
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It → represent → work
Eminent domain at the centre
According to the online report, the dispute could ultimately extend beyond negotiations.
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dispute → accord → negotiations
Zelenka is concerned that ATC could pursue eminent domain if property owners refuse to accept the proposed terms.
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owners → pursue → terms
Two neighbouring property owners, who are attorneys, are already challenging the issue in federal court.
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who → challenge → court
At the heart of the legal dispute is whether land can be taken for a transmission project primarily intended to serve a private data-center development.
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land → take → development
He maintains that the proposed project would fundamentally change his property for infrastructure connected to a private business.
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project → maintain → business
As the transmission project moves through the regulatory process, the Wisconsin homeowner remains opposed to surrendering the land voluntarily.
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homeowner → move → land
What began as a family effort to build a home and cultivate a piece of countryside has become a much larger battle over property rights, infrastructure and the rapidly expanding power demands of data centers.
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began → begin → centers
The Aporia
