Wisconsin’s Largest Utility Announces Pleasant Prairie Coal-Plant Retirement

Grassroots Advocates Urge WEC to Follow Through on Worker re-Training, Site Clean-up
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Renner Barsella, renner.barsella@sierraclub.org, 217-390-9394

Wisconsin -- Today, WEC Energy Group, the parent company to We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, announced that it will be retiring Pleasant Prairie coal fired power plant as early as next year. The coal plant retirement marks the 266th nationally, and continues a shift away from coal that has kept pace under the Trump Administration.

Advocates are calling on WEC to invest in community conversations around a plan that addresses on-site pollution concerns, continues investment in clean energy, and ensures an equitable transition for the workforce.

In response, Elizabeth Katt Reinders, Campaign Representative for Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign released the following statement:

“On the same day that President Trump’s EPA administrator is promising coal’s comeback, Wisconsin’s largest utility is forging ahead with a plan that reduces coal use while betting big on solar. Today is a good step towards moving beyond coal in Wisconsin. This welcome announcement is yet another example of the inevitable shift to safer and more cost effective clean energy, and highlights why Wisconsin needs a proactive plan to shift to clean energy and invest in the people impacted. It is important that We Energies takes steps to support the communities surrounding the plant, invests in a fair transition for impacted workers, and cleans up pollution at the site as they transition this plant to retirement.”

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.