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Commission approves We Energies site plans for LNG tank and five combustion turbines; company cites federal standards and local fire training
Summary
Planning commissioners approved site and architectural plans permitting We Energies to construct an LNG storage tank and five combustion turbines at its South Chicago Road campus, conditioned on submission of detailed, labeled building materials and a demolition plan.
The Planning Commission on June 24 approved site and architectural plans for construction of an LNG storage tank, five combustion turbines (CTs) and associated accessory buildings at the We Energies campus, a step required under a previously approved conditional use permit for the plant’s conversion.
We Energies representatives described the LNG tank as a full‑containment structure; staff and the applicant said the tank’s primary dimensions include an approximate storage capacity described in meeting materials and presentation as about 25,000,000 gallons. The tank shell is described as an inner 9% nickel containment surrounded by carbon steel and a concrete outer containment; staff said the tank is roughly 161 feet tall and about 170 feet with rooftop equipment. The proposal also includes five combustion turbines with exhaust stacks that were described as rising to about 90 feet.
The applicant said federal standards apply, including oversight by PHMSA (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) and NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) requirements; the company noted similar facilities and earlier on‑site LNG storage and described multiple layers of containment and monitoring. We Energies representatives also described underground piping to feed turbines and said the southern coal‑handling area will be converted for LNG equipment as coal is phased out; the company said coal operations will remain on site in transition until full retirement by set milestones and that coal piles will be removed per the conversion schedule.
Commissioners asked how local fire departments would respond; We Energies said it conducts training with local fire departments and the fire department’s assistant chief said his department had participated in prior training and had no concerns. Staff asked We Energies to submit revised plans that label materials and include a demolition plan showing removal of existing structures and ponds; the commission approved the site plans with those conditions.
