Building new natural gas plants in Wisconsin will strap customers with big bills

Yahoo

12-02-2025

Wisconsin stands at a critical energy crossroads. We Energies' plan to build massive new natural gas plants represents a costly misstep that threatens to lock in high energy costs, undermine clean energy goals and leave ratepayers footing the bill for outdated infrastructure.
At a time when clean energy and storage solutions are proving more reliable and cost-effective, doubling down on fossil fuel dependency is a financial and environmental mistake Wisconsin can't afford.
We Energies' proposed gas plants are not just unnecessary — they're a long-term financial burden on ratepayers.
Natural gas prices remain highly volatile due to global market instability, making reliance on gas a risky bet for Wisconsin's energy future. Meanwhile, states across the Midwest are rejecting new gas plants in favor of renewables, battery storage and efficiency. Wisconsin must follow suit or risk saddling customers with stranded assets and skyrocketing costs.
Wisconsin should prioritize growing its clean energy economy, not expanding fossil fuel infrastructure that contradicts the state's climate commitments.
A 100% clean energy standard would position Wisconsin as a leader in the Midwest, attracting businesses that demand sustainable power. Investments in solar, wind, battery storage, microgrids and smart grid upgrades will create jobs, enhance grid reliability and protect ratepayers from long-term price spikes.
Community solar and distributed energy empower local communities to generate their own clean power, reducing reliance on utilities and providing lower-cost energy options.
We Energies argues that new gas plants are needed to meet growing electricity demand, largely driven by data centers. But rapid advancements in AI-driven efficiency breakthroughs — such as DeepSeek — could significantly reduce energy consumption in data centers, meaning the projected demand may never materialize.
If We Energies locks in billions of dollars for gas plants just as efficiency gains take off, Wisconsin ratepayers will be stuck paying for unnecessary infrastructure. Instead of overbuilding based on outdated assumptions, the state should focus on flexible, adaptive solutions that can evolve alongside technological advances.
The idea that natural gas is the only way to meet peak demand is outdated and inaccurate.
Texas, California and even Alaska are deploying large-scale battery storage systems to replace gas-fired peaker plants. Battery storage costs have fallen 90% over the last decade, making it the clear economic winner over new fossil fuel generation.
Before committing billions to gas plants, Wisconsin should deploy storage solutions first — a proven, cost-effective alternative that reduces emissions and keeps electricity rates stable.
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Other states are retrofitting fossil fuel plants into clean energy hubs rather than building new gas infrastructure. Wisconsin should invest in solar, wind and battery storage at existing power plant sites, leveraging grid connections already in place.
This 'clean repowering' strategy allows for a smoother transition while maintaining grid stability and avoiding costly new gas plants.
Wisconsin risks losing business investment by ignoring corporate demand for clean energy. Major corporations like Microsoft, Google and Meta have committed to 100% carbon-free energy by 2030. We Energies' push for new gas plants directly contradicts these goals, forcing companies to seek cleaner power elsewhere.
Rather than doubling down on fossil fuels, Wisconsin should implement on-site demand response incentives for large energy users, reducing peak demand without building expensive new gas plants.
Wisconsin has a historic opportunity to lead the Midwest in clean energy innovation, but We Energies' gas expansion is a step in the wrong direction. Investing in clean energy solutions drives job creation, lowers costs and meets corporate sustainability goals. Locking in new gas plants while storage and renewables continue to outpace fossil fuels is a financial mistake Wisconsin can't afford.
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The choice is clear: Do we cling to outdated, expensive fossil fuel infrastructure, or do we embrace a smarter, more resilient clean energy future?
The answer should be obvious — for our economy, our environment and the future of Wisconsin.
John Imes is co-founder and director of Wisconsin Environmental Initiative.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: We Energies must invest in clean energy sources, not gas | Opinion