Stop We Energies from Doubling Down on Gas

We Energies’ parent company, WEC Energy Group, is rushing to push expensive fossil fuel infrastructure through the Public Service Commission approval process before the tide turns toward clean energy sources like wind and solar.

Why is this happening?

Building these expensive power plants is a windfall for power company shareholders. We Energies customers are still paying the $2.3 billion price tag for the company’s the Oak Creek “Power the Future” coal plant completed in 2011, the most expensive construction project in the history of the state. Shareholders earned about a 12.5% rate of return profit on that project.

Now We Energies is at it again. And once again, their customers will be paying the price through higher bills, unhealthy air, and unreachable climate goals.

We Energies wants to:

• Build a 130 Megawatt (MW) gas facility near the existing Paris Generating Station with an anticipated commercial operation date by summer 2026
• Build a 1,100 – 1,200 MW gas facility at its Oak Creek Power Plant campus with anticipated commercial operation dates for the units occurring from fall 2027 through June 2028
• Convert 100% of the capability at its Elm Road Generating Station and Weston Unit 4 to gas. (1863 MW total)
• Build a new liquefied natural gas facility near Elm Road.

This plan will lock Wisconsin into 30 more years of fossil fuels

In an early filing with the Public Service Commission, the power company admits the plants will be in operation for the next 30 years.

This is last ditch effort to build expensive fossil fuel projects before no longer makes sense per economics and regulations.

The Public Service Commission will be seeking public comment on these projects, Join our Action Network to find out when you can make your voice heard.

In this episode, Amy talks with Clean Wisconsin Science Program Director ​Dr. Paul Mathewson and attorney Katie Nekola about We Energies’ latest plan to double down on fossil fuel power plants. Are gas-fired power plants the bridge to clean energy that power companies claim? Amy looks at why power companies are racing to build new gas plants and what it means for the future of energy bills, our health and our climate.