Megan Wittman, megan.wittman@sierraclub.org
UNION GROVE, Wis. – A diverse coalition rallied ahead of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin’s (PSC) hearing on a gas plant proposed for the town of Paris in Kenosha County. We Energies’ plans include a proposed 130 MW reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE) facility located near the existing Paris Generating Station, with an anticipated commercial operation date by summer 2026.
We Energies’ new gas plans are inconsistent with their own plans to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by the end of 2030 and reach carbon-neutral status by 2050. For the last seven years, We Energies has increased rates for its captive customers every year. The cost of the new gas buildout will be forced on to ratepayers, who will be forced to shoulder the financial burden well beyond the expected lifespan of We Energies’ new methane gas plants.
Sister Janet Weyker speaks at the press conference outside of the PSC hearing. Photo by Cassie Steiner.
A recording of the coalition's press conference ahead of the PSC hearings can be found here.
The coalition released the following statements:
“We Energies’ new gas plans prioritizes shareholder profits, not affordable and reliable energy for Wisconsin families and businesses. This is the wrong direction for our clean energy future. We’re calling on the PSC to do the right thing and protect Wisconsinites from We Energies’ polluting, expensive gas proposals,” said Cassie Steiner, senior campaign coordinator, Sierra Club Wisconsin.
“Gas is not a bridge fuel, it’s a bridge to climate chaos. The Paris gas plant will pollute our communities and make Wisconsinites sick. The PSC has the power and obligation to protect the public and save lives by rejecting this permit,” said Abby Novinska-Lois, executive director, Healthy Climate Wisconsin.
“We Energies is proposing methane gas infrastructure in communities that are already vulnerable and suffering. Adding a methane gas power plant to Kenosha County will only add to the regional failing air quality days and exacerbate the associated public health harms,” said Yusuf Adama.
“Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee Counties are already nonattainment areas for ozone pollution. These same counties also have some of the highest asthma hospitalization rates in the state. Adding a new methane gas plant to this region will only exacerbate health harms,” said Dr. Brittany Keyes, clean air coordinator, Health Climate Wisconsin.
“This proposed project negatively impacts the health of people living in the area, undermines our state's climate goals, and is unfair to ratepayers. We urge the Public Service Commission to ensure those most impacted by energy costs and the negative health impacts of fossil fuels are not forced to pay for this expansion of WEC Energy Group's natural gas infrastructure,” said Jennifer Giegerich, government affairs director, Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, 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.