Resident urges Beloit to publicize comment period on Riverside Energy Center expansion

Susan Adams, a Beloit resident, urged the City Council during public comment on Feb. 3 to publicize a Wisconsin Public Service Commission comment period for the proposed Riverside Energy Center expansion (docket 6680-CE-187) and to add guidance to the city's Climate Action Plan on how residents can submit input.

Adams said the commission was accepting comments through Feb. 12 and that intervening nonprofit groups had raised concerns about the commission’s public notice and environmental assessment processes and limited opportunities for community input. “They found 1, significant flaws in the commission's public notice and environmental assessment processes. 2, limited opportunity for community members to voice their concerns to the commission. 3, inadequate attention to the project's effect on local health, air quality and utility rates,” Adams said.

Adams raised health concerns tied to the plant’s emissions and said locally measured fine particulate matter (PM2.5) monitors have shown high levels. She also said carbon-dioxide emissions from the facility have increased over time and that the Riverside Energy Center produces energy at a scale she said serves many households outside Beloit; she contrasted that with Beloit’s smaller household count.

Adams asked the council to add information about how to contact the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and commission staff to the city’s Climate Action Plan and said she would send contact information to Sarah Lock so residents could find it.

Councilor Adamo acknowledged the public comment period and encouraged residents to review the project and submit comments if they are concerned about community health. No council action was taken; the public comment period is advisory and council members may only refer speakers to staff or make future referrals.

Context and sources

- Project docket: Wisconsin Public Service Commission, Riverside Energy Center expansion, docket 6680-CE-187 (comment deadline Adams cited: Feb. 12). - Adams referenced air quality measurements from PurpleAir monitors and said the DNR issued guidance on those monitors on the EPA’s recommendation. - Adams attributed figures on emissions and household counts to her review of project materials and public documents; those figures were presented as her statements during public comment.