Planning commission recommends higher noise limit for Port Washington We Energies plant to reflect upgrades

The Port Washington Planning Commission voted Feb. 19 to recommend that the common council approve an amendment to a conditional use grant that would raise measured sound limits at the We Energies generating station from around 50 decibels to 60 decibels at established measurement locations.

City staff described the request as tied to long‑term maintenance and equipment upgrades at the plant; the original conditional use limits date to a 2008 amendment. "We Energies has approached the city requesting that the allowable decibels be amended to allow, on average, an additional 10 extra decibels," City staff said. Staff recommended approval with conditions including a 12‑month plant commission review after council action.

Mark Jenske, an engineer with WEC Energy Group, provided context for the decibel scale: "40 decibels might be like library kind of quiet, 50 decibels is understood to be kind of a private office... 60 decibels is more like a general office where you might have conversational speech." He said 60 dB remains relatively quiet for an industrial location and that the utility will perform baseline testing prior to upgrades and post‑construction testing as required by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.

Commissioners approved a motion to recommend the amendment to the common council; the council will hold a public hearing before taking final action. The commission’s recommendation included staff conditions and the planned 12‑month commission review following council approval.