Town of Rock approves liquified natural gas plant permit
The Town of Rock Planning and Zoning Committee unanimously approved a conditional use permit for Wisconsin Power and Light (WP&L) to build a $512 million liquified natural gas (LNG) plant. This decision followed two tabled votes and occurred despite concerns raised by local residents regarding environmental impacts and the project's potential connection to a hyperscale data center campus.
The Town of Rock Planning and Zoning Committee unanimously approved a conditional use permit application from Wisconsin Power and Light (WP&L), a subsidiary of Alliant Energy, for a $512 million liquified natural gas (LNG) plant on South Duggan Road. The approval came after two previously tabled votes and a 90-minute meeting where the committee discussed the project's pros and cons before a crowd of nearly 50 people.
Committee Chair Tony Dubanowich stated that Alliant Energy had agreed to all the town's requests, leaving no legal grounds for denial. The LNG plant, intended to store and vaporize natural gas for peak power demand, could power roughly 1 million homes for a year and would employ eight to 16 people after construction. WP&L aims to begin construction this year for a 2029 online date, pending approval from the Public Service Commission.
The project had generated considerable controversy, particularly after it was linked to discussions about a potential hyperscale data center campus in nearby Beloit and Turtle. However, Dubanowich clarified that the LNG plant would store power for existing capacity and would not add capacity for a data center. Residents like Brian and Mary Ann Buenzow, who own property adjacent to the proposed site, expressed disappointment but acknowledged the committee's decision. Dubanowich noted the project's financial benefit, estimating over $350,000 annually in shared revenue for the town.