Wisconsin residents urge regulators to reject gas plant they say would feed data center growth
Residents in Paris, Wisconsin, are strongly opposing Invenergy's proposed 1.2-gigawatt Red Oak Ridge Energy Center, a natural gas plant intended to meet rising electricity demand, largely driven by data centers. They expressed concerns about health impacts and environmental hazards at hearings held by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. The project, which We Energies plans to acquire, is currently under review by state regulators.
Residents of Paris, Wisconsin, located in Kenosha County, have voiced strong opposition to Invenergy's proposed Red Oak Ridge Energy Center, a 1.2-gigawatt natural gas plant. At recent Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) hearings, locals argued that their rural community should not bear the environmental and health burdens of a project primarily aimed at powering the state's growing hyperscale data center industry.
The PSC is currently reviewing the $1.8 billion proposal, which We Energies plans to acquire, citing a projected 40% increase in Wisconsin's electricity demand by 2032, with data centers accounting for a significant portion. Opponents, including Paris resident Kaley Zalubowski, whose son has asthma, and Tina Brewer, expressed fears of pollution and industrialization without direct community benefit. They contend that the electricity generated would primarily serve energy-intensive data centers.
Conversely, supporters, including labor leaders and some local officials like George Stoner of neighboring Somers, highlight the project's potential to stabilize costs, create construction jobs, and generate tax revenue. Invenergy's developer, Daniel Birmingham, stated the facility would help meet peak demand. However, Paris Town Board Chair John Holloway noted widespread unease among residents regarding the state approval process and questions about who truly benefits from continued power generation projects in their area. The project remains under state regulatory review, with Invenergy aiming to begin construction by October and operations by mid-2030.