Dozens of Walworth Country residents told state regulators their concerns about a proposed natural gas-fired plant that would help power large data centers.
The state Public Service Commission held a public hearing July 16 on a proposal to build a $564 million natural gas plant in the Town of Darien. The plant, named Foundry Ridge Energy Center, can generate up to 324 megawatts – the equivalent of power used by more than 50,000 homes.
The hearing held at Darien Public Library stretched through two three-hour sessions, a show of the increased public interest in data center-related projects acknowledged by the commission earlier this year.
Residents and environmental groups fear the plant will pollute nearby air and water in service of artificial intelligence data centers. Some oppose additional utility-scale projects following a controversial solar farm built near town in 2025.
“Our community has already had to deal with the solar field we did not want, and now the same company is going to bring an ugly, harmful natural gas plant to destroy our rural community,” nearby resident John Schlich said during the meeting.
Others say any new power generation should come from clean sources to protect public health and combat climate change.
Meanwhile, builders spoke in support of the plant. They said it will create more than 100 union construction jobs and improve grid reliability.
“The fact is, we need to have a diversified supply of energy generation to ensure that our homes and businesses have the power the need to continue economic development and provide prosperity for Wisconsin’s residents,” said Kurt Miller, president of the Wisconsin Laborers’ District Council.
Here’s what to know:
What is the issue at hand?
Chicago-based developer Invenergy filed an application with the Public Service Commission in spring 2025 to build Foundry Ridge on around 15 acres of farmland in Darien.
The company plans to sell the plant to We Energies. The commission will consider the sale separately.
In public filings, We Energies identified Foundry Ridge as one of the new projects to serve hyperscale data center projects in southeast Wisconsin. They include the Microsoft campus in Mount Pleasant and a $15 billion facility in Port Washington.
The plant will fire up during periods of peak electricity demand, typically the hottest and coldest days of the year, Invenergy says.
Who would pay for the plant?
If We Energies buys the plant, its cost would normally be passed on to its customers. But the utility created a separate electric rate for data centers to prevent residents from incurring costs related to these projects.
The utility initially sought to split the gas plant’s cost between data centers and other ratepayers. State regulators required in April that data centers pay the full price.
Why is the plant being proposed?
Invenergy and We Energies say the project is needed to improve grid reliability as demand for electricity skyrockets. A recent draft report from the Public Service Commission estimates that Wisconsin’s energy demand will rise 40% in the next six years, due primarily to hyperscale data centers.
Invenergy also said it modified the project to reduce wastewater.
“Energy projects like this are economic engines for rural Wisconsin, bringing jobs, workforce development, and a stronger economy for the long-term,” Johnathan Shelton, the project’s developer, said in a statement. “Foundry Ridge Energy Center will generate responsive and reliable power when it’s needed most.”
What are environmental groups’ concerns?
Brittany Keyes, clean air policy manager for Healthy Climate Wisconsin, said during the hearing that the plant could cost the area millions of dollars in health-related costs and lead to premature deaths.
In addition to the greenhouse gas methane, natural gas plants emit harmful particulate matter into the air – the same pollutant found in the wildfire smoke blanketing Wisconsin on July 16.
“There’s truly no safe level for the human body,” Keyes said. “Those most vulnerable are our children, those with pre-existing conditions, those who are expecting or pregnant, but really all of us are at risk and all of us are harmed by any exposure.”
Are more natural gas plants being proposed?
Yes.
Invenergy wants to build a 1.1-gigawatt natural gas plant in Kenosha County. This plant would also be sold to We Energies and serve data center projects. The proposal is pending before state regulators.
We Energies has plans for another natural gas plant in Calumet County, according to public filings in its most recent rate case. It has an estimated service date of December 2031.
Can I still submit a public comment on the Walworth County plant?
Yes. Through July 23, members of the public can submit an online comment for the Public Service Commission to review.
The commission will also hold public hearing sessions for the Kenosha County gas plant on Thursday, July 23 at 2 and 6 p.m. Residents can attend in person at the Town of Paris Safety Building, 16607 Burlington Road in Union Grove, or via Zoom.
This article was updated to correct the number of megawatts the Walworth County plant would provide.
Francesca Pica can be reached at fpica@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Dozens spoke at hearing for data center plant. Here are their concerns.
Reporting by Francesca Pica, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Francesca Pica, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
