Data centers are hungry for power—and for-profit utilities in Wisconsin are scheming to push fossil fuel plants to meet that demand, ignoring community needs and the lasting, toxic implications of turning to methane gas.
In a ruse to fast-track gas plants, Wisconsin independent power producers (IPPs) and We Energies are separating proposals into two review procedures, first for the construction of the plants and a second for the state’s acquisition of the power. The move means state officials considering the construction of new gas plants cannot take into account arguments based on the needs of the impacted communities, as IPPs are not mandated to serve the public like utilities are.
When the time comes for state officials to consider the acquisition of the power, the public will have missed a critical opportunity to advocate for or debate which type of power source would be best. This two-track process is not inherently problematic: when utilized to deploy affordable clean energy sources, utilities can shift away from an overreliance on fossil fuels and decarbonize the grid at a faster rate. But a lack of forward-looking energy policies exposes Wisconsin communities to increased harm from fossil fuel overreliance and deprioritizes the needs of the public. Fundamentally, legislators must pass long-term energy planning requirements so that regulators do not have to review cases in silos—especially when interrelated cases are poised to have profound, lasting impacts on community health, against community wishes.
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