Written by: Suhaib Shams
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has unanimously approved a proposal to develop and build two new natural gas power plants in the southern part of the state, in order to meet the growing demand for energy resulting from the rapid expansion of data centers and artificial intelligence technologies.
The Foundry Ridge Energy Center and Red Oak Ridge Energy Center projects, both developed by Invenergy, will together be able to generate approximately 1.5 gigawatts of power. The company plans to start operating the smaller Walworth County plant with a capacity of 324 megawatts in 2028, while the larger Kenosha County plant with a capacity of approximately 1.2 gigawatts will enter service in 2030.
Environmental challenges and legislative concerns
Both projects faced objections from environmental groups and local residents who expressed concern regarding the potential impacts of fossil fuels on the climate and public health, as reports indicate that air pollution caused by these plants could contribute to potential increases in pollution exposure risks over the life of the projects. Regulators noted that current legal frameworks impose restrictions on the review of commercial developer projects, making existing laws in urgent need of legislative review to better evaluate the impacts.
Massive investments to strengthen the power grid
This approval comes at a time when utility companies are racing against time to meet a projected significant jump in electricity demand in the state, driven by the ongoing expansion of data centers. Representatives of the developer company emphasized that the two projects represent practical solutions to strengthen local energy supplies, support economic growth, and provide new job opportunities, in parallel with the expansion of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and battery storage to generate reliable and sustainable energy for the future.
