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Resident raises health and climate concerns about proposed gas-fired RICE plant in Paris Township
Summary
During citizens' comments a resident identified as Maria urged supervisors to investigate a proposed methane-fueled RICE generating station planned for Paris Township, citing potential health, climate and rate impacts and noting Public Service Commission listening sessions.
A resident identified in the meeting record only as Maria used the citizens' comment period to urge Kenosha County supervisors to learn more about a proposed reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE) natural-gas generating station planned for Paris Township.
Maria said the plant is presented as a “fill-in” generating station until renewable sources are sufficient and asked whether We Energies has informed county officials or submitted information to county planning bodies. She said the Public Service Commission is holding listening sessions on the plant the next day, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., in the municipal center room at the Union Grove Village Hall, and she urged supervisors and residents to attend.
Maria raised several concerns and characterized them as potential impacts of the project. She said the plant would require about 30 miles of pipeline and warned that methane leaks easily; she described methane as far more potent than carbon dioxide as a climate pollutant. She also said the Public Service Commission recently allowed We Energies a 14% rate increase after an 18% request and criticized the utility’s position as a monopoly.
Citing a January report she said was from the Union of Concerned Scientists and Healthy Climate Wisconsin, Maria said two proposed gas plants — one in Oak Creek and one in the county — would “release harmful pollutants, worsen asthma, and trigger heart attacks,” and she referenced estimated health-cost figures; the transcript included a numeric figure that was not read clearly on the record. She also urged supervisors to ask questions about air quality testing and about noise the plant would make when operating.
Her remarks were delivered during the public comment segment; no county action on the plant was taken during the meeting. The board did not respond on the record to Maria’s comments during the citizens’ comment period.
Maria concluded by urging listeners to contact U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson if they disagreed with certain national policy figures she mentioned. No further public commenters spoke before the chair closed the citizens’ comments portion of the meeting.
