Bending the Arc

WE Energies plans $2 billion in fossil fuel projects in Southern Wisconsin. Environmental groups are raising the alarm about the potential costs of these projects - to our pocket books, our health, and the environment.

WE Energies proposes to:

• Build a 130 MW gas facility near the existing Paris Generating Station in Kenosha County.
• Convert its Oak Creek Power Plant from coal-fired plant to natural gas (1863 MW total) 
• Build a new liquefied natural gas storage facility near Elm Road in Oak Creek.

Why is this a problem?

• Building more natural gas plants will delay WEC Energy’s Group goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2030. The company plans for the plants to be in operation for the next 30 years.
• Natural gas production releases methane, which has 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over 20 years. Brett Korte, an attorney with Clean Wisconsin, called methane a “climate killer.”
• In addition to methane, the fossil fuel plant will emit pollutants that will have serious impacts on the environment, causing increased health problems for area residents, including asthma, lung disease, and respiratory infections.
• The project will increase energy costs for WE Energy customers, who will pay for the projects over a period of decades.

What can we do?

Make your voice heard. The Public Service Commission, which must approve these plans, is holding public hearings. If interested, attend one!

Paris Hearings:
Wednesday, February 5 at 2:00 pm or 6:00 pm
Municipal Center Community Room Union Grove Village Hall
925 15th Ave, Union Grove
To attend virtually on Zoom, click here.

Oak Creek Hearings:
Tuesday, March 25 at 1:00 pm or 6:00 pm
Oak Creek Community Center Ballroom
8580 S. Howell Ave., Oak Creek
To attend virtually on Zoom, click here.

Can’t attend the meetings? Click here to submit comments by February 14.