PSC approves Paris RICE project, selects alternate site 2 and requires incremental cost reporting

The Public Service Commission on May 22, 2025, approved a certificate of public convenience and necessity for Wisconsin Electric Power Company to construct, own and operate the Paris RICE project: seven reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE) generators with a combined capacity of approximately 128 megawatts and a 138-kilovolt generator tie line to the nearby Paris solar collector substation. The commission authorized the project at the applicant’s alternate site 2 and attached conditions requiring detailed cost reporting and standard environmental and construction conditions.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the project would provide flexible, dispatchable capacity to back up renewable generation as the applicant serves expected near‑term load growth. The proceeding included a jointly prepared environmental impact statement under the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA), extensive modeling and multiple interveners. Commissioners weighed timing, interconnection capacity, and local land‑use considerations when choosing the site.

Key facts

- Project description and cost: The Paris RICE project is comprised of seven generators, each with a stated 18.8 MW capacity for approximately 128 MW total. The applicant estimated project construction costs of approximately $279.6 million with an allowance for funds used during construction of $23.7 million.

- Environm…