We Energies natural gas plants approved by regulators

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin approved We Energies plans to build a 1,100 megawatt (MW) natural gas plant in Oak Creek and a 128 MW natural gas plant in the Town of Paris, in Kenosha County.

Both projects are part of We Energies’ “all of the above” power generation approach. In the coming years, the company is planning to close older, less efficient plants, and invest in a balanced mix of wind, solar, energy storage and natural gas. We Energies plans to invest $9.1 billion in new renewable energy by 2029 — including solar, wind and battery storage. The company also aims to eliminate coal by the end of 2032.

The Oak Creek and Paris plants, along with other proposed natural gas pipeline and storage facilities, will help provide a critical backstop for intermittent renewables. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued preliminary approval of the air permit at the Oak Creek plant. Regulators note the new plant in Oak Creek plant would be a decrease of 3.5 million tons per year of carbon dioxide compared to the current Oak Creek coal plant.

Construction on both projects will begin this year and the plants will be brought online in the coming years.

In March, We Energies released data it said underscores the critical role of quick-start natural gas plants in maintaining grid reliability, particularly during extreme weather events.

The utility cited an August 2024 heat wave that drove electricity demand to record levels. While renewable energy sources like wind and solar were limited—particularly after sunset—We Energies said its natural gas plants stepped in to supply 1,000 to 2,000 MW per hour, preventing potential outages.