Feb. 5, 2025 3p
(WGTD)---The state Public Service Commission is considering whether to approve construction of a natural gas-fired power plant in the Town of Paris.
The proposal has drawn opposition from environmental groups.
While they applaud We Energies' move away from coal, the groups say natural gas is a poor alternative, even for a plant that’s intended to be used as a back-up power source, as We Energies has said.
Abby Novinska-Lois is executive director of Healthy Climate Wisconsin. "Coal is definitely not what we want to see built out as an alternative to this plant. That being said, gas is the second worst option," Novinska-Lois said on WGTD's Morning Show.
Novinska-Lois contends that We Energies hasn’t proven that the plant is actually needed. If anything is to be built, she said, it should be additional renewable energy sources.
But We Energies spokesman Brendan Conway says the utility has been moving as fast as possible in developing clean energy sources. "We're investing $9.1 billion in new solar, wind and battery storage in the next five years. That's a huge investment," Conway said on the Morning Show. "But we also know there are days when it's just not that sunny or the sun can't meet the need. Or there are days when it's not very windy. So we can quickly ramp up these natural gas plants."
A 200 megawatt solar farm went online in Paris just a few weeks ago. The proposed 128 megawatt natural gas-fired plant would be built nearby.
Public Service Commission hearings on the plant are being held Wednesday at the Union Grove Village Hall.
The plant, if approved, would be the company's second gas-fired plant in the town.
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