MILWAUKEE – Today, clean energy and environmental organizations across the state launched Power Wisconsin Forward, a movement toward an affordable, reliable and fossil-free future.
Power Wisconsin Forward is supported by the Clean Economy Coalition of Wisconsin (CECW) and its more than 50 partner organizations that recognize that methane gas infrastructure is bad for people, the planet and pocketbooks. The campaign will educate Wisconsinites on the harmful effects of methane gas while activating a growing Coalition to enable a clean energy future.
The work that Power Wisconsin Forward is advancing is more critical than ever. Utilities across Wisconsin are proposing massive new methane gas infrastructure, which is inconsistent with the state’s clean energy future and directly conflicts with the state achieving carbon-neutral status by 2050. Should new infrastructure plans be approved, Wisconsinites will be locked into decades of fossil fuel use and will once again be paying the price through higher bills, increased service disruptions, unhealthy air, and unreachable climate goals.
“Wisconsinites deserve affordable, reliable and fossil-free clean energy, and we are proud to be part of Power Wisconsin Forward’s efforts to make that a reality,” said Cassie Steiner, Senior Campaign Coordinator at Sierra Club – Wisconsin. “For too long, utility companies have gotten away with making poor investment decisions in fossil fuels, passing along the cost to customers, and profiting while customers suffer from air and water pollution and high electric bills. We look forward to continuing our work to ensure that our utility regulators hold true to their mission to ‘ensure safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible utility services.”
Consider that in April 2024, WEC Energy Group (parent company of We Energies) submitted proposals to the Public Service Commission to build $2 billion worth of new gas infrastructure in southeastern Wisconsin, including:
- Building a new gas-generating plant at the Oak Creek Power Plant campus.
- Installing seven Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE) near the Paris Solar Farm in Kenosha County.
- Constructing 33 miles of natural gas pipeline in Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee counties.
- Transitioning the Elm Road coal plant to a gas plant rather than replacing it with clean energy.
In addition, Alliant Energy announced in May 2024 that it plans to convert its coal plant in Sheboygan to methane gas by 2028. These new proposals are the first of a number of anticipated projects that will be put in front of the PSC regarding fossil fuel investments across the state this year.
Power Wisconsin Forward believes the reliability of our electricity is more important than ever – especially as climate change is contributing to increasing severe weather events that challenge our electric grid. But methane gas is not the answer. Clean technologies exist to provide healthy, reliable electricity – and they need to be considered as part of this process.
“Methane gas expansion would put Wisconsin further behind in our transition to a clean energy economy,” said Sam Dunaiski, Executive Director at RENEW Wisconsin. “Wind, solar, and batteries are now economically competitive with fossil fuel energy and mitigate the impacts of climate change. These investments, along with improved transmission infrastructure, can provide reliable, clean energy to Wisconsin communities without costly investments in fossil fuels. These clean energy solutions keep us on track to achieve net zero by 2050.”
Power Wisconsin Forward invites Wisconsinites to learn more about the proposed gas plants and how they can reclaim their right to clean energy, health, and a clean environment through its website, www.powerwisconsinforward.com.
The public is invited to learn more and get involved in upcoming events, including:
- Affordable Energy Bills: A Webinar on How to Stand up for Fair Utility Bills
Tuesday, September 24, 2024 | 7:00–8:00 p.m. | RSVP here
This webinar will review We Energies’ gas and rate increase proposal, who makes the decision on this proposal, and how to use your personal experience to help inform the decision that’s being made about your electric bill and power source. - Public Health and Methane Gas Plants Webinar
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 | 7:00-8:00 a.m. | RSVP here
Join us to learn more about how methane gas infrastructure affects public health, especially patient populations in Wisconsin, as the state
transitions away from coal-fired power plants.
ABOUT POWER WISCONSIN FORWARD
Power Wisconsin Forward is organized on the foundational truth that methane gas infrastructure is bad for our people, planet and pocketbooks. Supported by the Clean Economy Coalition of Wisconsin (CECW) and its more than 50 partner organizations, the campaign is focused on educating Wisconsinites and activating change to enable a cleaner energy future for our state that creates jobs, builds energy reliability and saves people money. Learn more and get involved at www.powerwisconsinforward.com
