$1.2 billion power plant faces environmental pushback in Oak Creek
March 25, 2025
SPOT. TONIGHT AT FIVE PUBLIC FIREWORKS OVER A PLAN TO BUILD A NEW $1.2 BILLION NATURAL GAS POWER PLANT IN OAK CREEK. THIS WOULD BE BUILT AT THE SITE OF ITS CURRENT COAL FIRED POWER PLANT THERE. 12 NEWS NICK BOHR LIVE IN OAK CREEK, WHERE BOTH SIDES ARE MAKING THEIR ARGUMENTS. AND NICK, WOULD THIS REPLACE THE COAL PLANT IN TIME? IT WOULD YES. IN FACT, IT WOULD CLOSE LATER THIS YEAR. THE OLDER PART OF THE PLANT IS SCHEDULED TO BE CLOSED THEN. AND THEN THE NEWER PART WOULD SHUT DOWN DOWN THE ROAD. BUT OPPONENTS SAY IT IS TIME TO SAY NO TO FOSSIL FUEL PLANTS ALTOGETHER. NOW, THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW NATURAL GAS POWER PLANT, SPARKING PROTESTS IN OAK CREEK. IF THIS PLANT IS APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, WE WILL SEE HIGHER RATES OF ASTHMA, CARDIOVASCULAR AND RESPIRATORY DISEASE AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES IN CHILDREN. IF THIS PLANT IS APPROVED, THOSE RISKS WILL LAND RIGHT HERE IN OUR BACKYARD. DESPITE THE FACT THE NATURAL GAS POWER PLANT WOULD REPLACE COAL ONES BEING RETIRED, ACTIVISTS SAY ANY FOSSIL FUEL PLANT SHOULD BE REJECTED. YEARS FROM NOW, WE MAY COME UP WITH A BETTER ALTERNATIVE FOR A FUEL SOURCE, BUT RIGHT NOW, THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT GOING FORWARD. OAK CREEK’S MAYOR TELLS 12 NEWS HE SEES LITTLE OPPOSITION IN THE COMMUNITY AND CONSIDERS THE NEW POWER PLANT AN ASSET FOR FUTURE GROWTH. RIGHT NOW, IT’S COAL FIRED. WE ALL KNOW COAL IS NOT THE BEST CHOICE. GAS IS THE ONLY OTHER ALTERNATIVE OUT THERE. IF WE COULD DO IT ALL RENEWABLE, WE WOULD. INSIDE THE HEARING, OPPONENTS TOLD PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONERS RENEWABLE ENERGY IS THE ONLY WAY FORWARD. WE BEAR THE COST OF THOSE CONSEQUENCES WITH BOTH OUR HEALTH AND THE PRICE WE PAY FOR ENERGY. THE CONVERSION OF THE SOUTH OAK CREEK PLANT TO NATURAL GAS WILL LOCK US INTO ANOTHER FOSSIL FUEL FOR DECADES, AT A TIME WHEN ENERGY SOURCES ARE RAPIDLY EVOLVING. WHILE WE ENERGY SAYS THEY ARE OPENING WIND AND SOLAR FARMS, THERE’S A GROWING NEED FOR A STABLE POWER SUPPLY. WE NEED THESE PLANTS BECAUSE AS WE ADD MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY, THE SUN ISN’T ALWAYS SHINE, THE WIND DOESN’T ALWAYS BLOW, AND SO THESE PLANTS WILL BE THERE TO FILL THOSE GAPS. WHEN THAT’S NOT HAPPENING. SO, NICK, WHAT’S THE TIMETABLE LIKE ON THIS PROPOSAL? WELL, THIS HEARING IS STILL GOING ON. IT STARTED AT 1:00. THERE’S ANOTHER ONE THAT STARTS AT 6:00 TONIGHT. FOLLOWING THE HEARINGS, THE PROJECT WOULD GO BEFORE THE DNR. IF IT GETS THE NECESSARY APPROVALS, THERE, AND THE PSC CONSTRUCTION WOULD BEGIN LATER THIS YEAR. THAT NEW PLANT EXPECTED THEN TO GO ONLINE IN LATE 2027 OR EARLY 2028. CERTAINLY A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF OPINIONS ABOUT THIS. NICK BOHR LIVE IN OAK CREEK FOR US TONIGHT. THANKS, NICK. ACCORDING TO WE ENERGY’S WEBSITE, THE OAK CREEK POWER PLANT HAS BEEN OPERATING AT ITS CURRENT SITE SINCE 1959. THE PLANT RIGHT NOW USES AN AVERAGE OF 6000 TONS OF COAL A DAY, RUNNING 24 HOURS A DAY. THE PLANT GENERATES 1130 FIVE MEGAWATTS OF ELECTRICITY. IT USES A MILLION AND A HALF GALLONS OF WATER FROM LAKE
$1.2 billion power plant faces environmental pushback in Oak Creek
Debate intensifies over Wisconsin’s energy future as $1.2B gas plant proposal draws environmental concerns despite promises of reduced emissions
The proposed construction of a new natural gas power plant is sparking protest in Oak Creek. Outside a Public Service Commission hearing at the Oak Creek Community Center Tuesday, environmental activists said the time for any new fossil fuel plants has passed.”If this plant is approved by the public service commission, we will see higher rates of asthma, cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and developmental issues in children,” said Julia Alberth of Healthy Climate Wisconsin. “If the plant is approved, those risks will land right here in our backyard.”We Energies has applied to the PSC for approval of a $1.2 billion natural gas-fired electrical plant to be built at the site of its current coal plant in Oak Creek on the shore of Lake Michigan.”Years from now, we may come up with a better alternative fuel source, but right now, this is the best way to reduce our carbon footprint going forward,” said Oak Creek Mayor Dan Bukiewicz outside the hearing.He said he’s seen little opposition in the community, with many nearby residents saying they welcome the end of the trains carrying coal to the existing plant. “Right now, it’s coal-fired. We all know coal is not the best choice. Gas is the only other alternative out there. If we could do it all renewable, we would,” Bukiewicz said.Inside the hearing, opponents told Public Service Commissioners that renewable energy is the only way forward.”We bear the cost of those consequences with both our health and the price we pay for energy,” testified Tom Rutkowski, a member of the Racine County Board of Supervisors. “Conversion of the south Oak Creek plant to natural gas will lock us in to another fossil fuel for decades at a time that energy sources are rapidly evolving.”While We Energies says they are opening wind and solar farms, there’s a growing need for a stable power supply.”We need these plants because as we add more renewable energy, the sun doesn’t always shine, the wind doesn’t always blow, and so these plants will be there to fill these gaps when that’s not happening,” said We Energies spokesman Brendan Conway outside the hearing.”We are planning to retire a coal plant later this year. If this were to not move forward, we might have to reconsider running that old coal plant,” Conway said. “We don’t have an option of whether or not we can keep the lights on. We have an obligation to our customers to support reliability, and by the way, we know the majority of our customers support this commonsense approach.” If it meets state approvals, construction is set to begin in late 2025, with completion approximately two years later.Top HeadlinesDisconnected ‘Wind Phone’ lets loved ones connect with those who’ve diedDying Milwaukee man qualifies for Social Security, family fears money won’t come in timeOne year later: A look back at the timeline of the Key Bridge collapse
The proposed construction of a new natural gas power plant is sparking protest in Oak Creek. Outside a Public Service Commission hearing at the Oak Creek Community Center Tuesday, environmental activists said the time for any new fossil fuel plants has passed.
“If this plant is approved by the public service commission, we will see higher rates of asthma, cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and developmental issues in children,” said Julia Alberth of Healthy Climate Wisconsin. “If the plant is approved, those risks will land right here in our backyard.”
We Energies has applied to the PSC for approval of a $1.2 billion natural gas-fired electrical plant to be built at the site of its current coal plant in Oak Creek on the shore of Lake Michigan.
“Years from now, we may come up with a better alternative fuel source, but right now, this is the best way to reduce our carbon footprint going forward,” said Oak Creek Mayor Dan Bukiewicz outside the hearing.
He said he’s seen little opposition in the community, with many nearby residents saying they welcome the end of the trains carrying coal to the existing plant.
“Right now, it’s coal-fired. We all know coal is not the best choice. Gas is the only other alternative out there. If we could do it all renewable, we would,” Bukiewicz said.
Inside the hearing, opponents told Public Service Commissioners that renewable energy is the only way forward.
“We bear the cost of those consequences with both our health and the price we pay for energy,” testified Tom Rutkowski, a member of the Racine County Board of Supervisors. “Conversion of the south Oak Creek plant to natural gas will lock us in to another fossil fuel for decades at a time that energy sources are rapidly evolving.”
While We Energies says they are opening wind and solar farms, there’s a growing need for a stable power supply.
“We need these plants because as we add more renewable energy, the sun doesn’t always shine, the wind doesn’t always blow, and so these plants will be there to fill these gaps when that’s not happening,” said We Energies spokesman Brendan Conway outside the hearing.
“We are planning to retire a coal plant later this year. If this were to not move forward, we might have to reconsider running that old coal plant,” Conway said. “We don’t have an option of whether or not we can keep the lights on. We have an obligation to our customers to support reliability, and by the way, we know the majority of our customers support this commonsense approach.”
If it meets state approvals, construction is set to begin in late 2025, with completion approximately two years later.
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