New Analysis Details the Public Health Impacts of Proposed Gas Plants in Wisconsin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Abby Novinska-Lois

Abby@healthyclimatewi.org

(608) 228-2893

New Analysis Details the Public Health Impacts of Proposed Gas Plants in Wisconsin

The Oak Creek and Paris gas plants would result in $3.6 billion-5.7 billion in health costs and hundreds of premature deaths over their operating lifetime.

Milwaukee, WI – A new analysis released by the Union of Concerned Scientists and Healthy Climate Wisconsin shows that the construction of two new fossil gas power plants would have substantial negative health consequences for Wisconsin and surrounding communities.

High Health Costs

Gas power plants, in addition to emitting greenhouse gases, pollute the air with nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds. These pollutants are harmful to health and worsen conditions like heart disease and asthma while increasing the risk of premature death. These negative health outcomes hurt quality of life, create burdensome costs, and impact the economy.

Researchers at PSE Healthy Energy found that health impacts associated with the proposed Oak Creek gas plant would total $92.8 million to $144.8 million annually, while the health costs from the Paris gas plant would be $25.4 million to $46.7 million annually. These figures only summarize the costs observed over a single year. The utility has stated in its applications that the proposed gas plants could be operational at least 30 years – increasing costs and loss of life. An example of health impacts over the operating lifetime of the facilities include:

Oak Creek Gas Plant

  • 165-264 Premature Deaths
  • 249 Emergency Room Visits
  • 693 Cases of Asthma Onset
  • 66 Heart Attacks

Paris Gas Plant

  • 48-87 Premature Deaths
  • 54 Emergency Room Visits
  • 165 Cases of Asthma Onset
  • 27 Heart Attacks

The impacts listed above are not exhaustive and are based on conservative estimates drawn from widely-used public health models. More maps and figures can be found in the attached report.

“Methane gas is linked to numerous health issues such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Air pollution from these sources can affect almost every organ system and is associated with low birth weight, miscarriages, and increased infant mortality,” said Annie Carrell, NP, a Nurse Practitioner in Milwaukee.

“The proposed gas plants would place additional burdens on communities already disproportionately harmed by environmental pollution,” writes Maria Chavez, an energy analyst with the Union of Concerned Scientists. “We Energies is the most profitable utility in Wisconsin, and it has a responsibility to provide safe, reliable, and affordable energy to its customers. There is no shortage of evidence showing that clean, renewable energy can meet those needs, and We Energies should be held accountable for the public health and economic harms of its proposed gas investments”.

Polluting Facilities in Wisconsin Ozone Nonattainment Areas Classified as Serious

Today, January 16, the EPA reclassified the ozone non-attainment status of several Wisconsin counties to ‘serious.’ That means Milwaukee and Sheboygan counties failed to meet 2015 federal standards for ozone designed to protect human health and welfare. In response, the Wisconsin Department of Natural

Resources (DNR) is hosting a public hearing this afternoon to update their State Implementation Plan for improving air quality in Milwaukee, Kenosha, and Sheboygan Counties.

Notably, two of those areas are home to proposed gas projects. Seven reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE) totaling 128 megawatts (MW) would be located in Paris, Kenosha County. The other, consisting of five combustion turbine generators totaling 1,100 MW, would be located in Oak Creek, Milwaukee County. That’s concerning because ozone is controlled by reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides, both of which would be emitted in large quantities:

Oak Creek Methane Gas Plant

  • 579.7 tons/year of nitrogen oxides
  • 88.2 tons/year of VOCs
  • 112.5 tons/year of particulate matter2.5
  • 1,280,000 tons/year of CO2e

Paris Methane Gas Plant

  • 70.2 tons/year of nitrogen oxides
  • 94.7 tons/year of VOCs
  • 50.4tons/year of particulate matter2.5
  • 354,600 tons/year of CO2e

Although the Oak Creek plant would release more pollutants, the DNR and the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) released a full environmental impact statement for Paris but not Oak Creek because a retiring coal-fired power plant exists at the Oak Creek site. That distinction is important because major sources are required by law to offset their emissions in ozone non-attainment areas. Over 20 organizations criticized this decision and requested a full environmental impact statement be conducted in a letter to the PSCW on Monday, January 13, 2025.

“When the air quality gets worse, my patients end up hospitalized. There is no safe number of kids having asthma attacks. The community around the Oak Creek plant has suffered for decades from the health impacts of coal. We shouldn’t be replacing that with another polluting gas facility,” said Victoria Gillet, MD, Internal Medicine Physician in Milwaukee.

Both sites have ozone and small particulate matter (PM2.5 ) concentrations above the state’s average, signaling that these local communities are already facing heavy environmental health risks. The Oak Creek area also has a high concentration of toxic air releases – 60% higher than the state average and around three times the national average.

Testimony Delivered at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) Today

The PSCW is currently reviewing the gas plant proposals by Wisconsin Electric Power Company, or We Energies, and received written testimony from intervening parties in the case today.

While We Energies claims that the new gas plants are a necessary step for retiring coal and meeting the energy demand of new intensive users, such as a Microsoft data center, many in Wisconsin disagree. Testimony in both gas cases demonstrates renewable energy can meet their electricity needs reliably and affordably.

Construction for these two gas plants would cost around $2 billion—a cost passed down to We Energies customers through their electric bills. That is especially burdensome considering the risk that these plants may become stranded assets. We Energies is still collecting profit from millions in retrofits to the Oak Creek Coal Plant which became a stranded asset and left customers on the hook for rising electricity rates. Add that to the health and economic impact costs outlined above, plus the growing cost of climate change damages, and it’s clear these fossil fuel investments are at the expense of our health and future as well as our pocketbooks.

The PSCW is currently taking public comments for the Paris gas plant case now through February 17th and is holding public hearings on February 5th. A public hearing for the Oak Creek gas plant is scheduled for March 25th.

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About Healthy Climate Wisconsin

Healthy Climate Wisconsin is an organization led by nurses, doctors, healthcare workers, and public health leaders across Wisconsin. Healthy Climate Wisconsin protects the health and quality of life of patients and communities by advancing climate and health equity. Every Wisconsinite, regardless of race, income, gender, or ability, should have clean air, safe water, and a stable climate to live a vibrant, healthy life.

About Union of Concerned Scientists

The Union of Concerned Scientists puts science into action to build a healthier planet, a safer world, and a more equitable society. It advances equitable science-based solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems, conduct rigorous technical analyses, and mobilize its supporters to build powerful coalitions, educate decision-makers, and advocate for change.