We Energies Closing Coal-Fired Plant In Pleasant Prairie

Another large coal-fired power plant in Wisconsin is closing. We Energies says it’s shutting down its Pleasant Prairie facility in Kenosha County next year.

The Pleasant Prairie plant was once the state’s largest coal-fired generator of electricity, but the shutdown notice is not a complete surprise.

We Energies closed the plant for a few months this past spring when energy demand was not at its peak for the year. A permanent shutdown will occur by summer, according to the company.

We Energies spokeswoman Amy Jahns says the energy market continues to change.

“Such as sustained low natural gas prices.There’s also been a dramatic reduction in the cost of renewable energy, especially utility-scale solar,” Jahns said. “And there’s been limited to no growth in electricity demand over the last few years.”

Jahns said We Energies is trying to find other duties for the roughly 150 employees at the Pleasant Prairie plant.

The environmental group Clean Wisconsin applauds the closing. It called the looming closure and utility plans for more solar power a big win for Wisconsin.

The Sierra Club’s Elizabeth Ward said the planned closing is part of a national trend.

“It’s the 266th coal plant to be announced for retirement, and that has been sort of a steady pattern we’ve seen,” Ward said. “It’s continued this year, regardless of some of the rhetoric that’s been stated about coal coming back. It kind of shows that’s unlikely, and this transition will keep happening.”

Ward said she hopes the employees at Pleasant Prairie are assisted making a positive transition to other work.