GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A $517 million generating unit is being requested by Wisconsin Public Service at its Fox Energy Center in Wrightstown.
According to WPS officials, the new natural gas unit would be able to generate 400 megawatts of electricity. Currently, the plant has 2 units that are able to generate 593 megawatts.
The Green Bay-based company says if the new unit is built, the Fox Energy Center could serve over 500,000 homes.
Wisconsin Public Service is expecting demand for electricity to rise by 2019 due to the economic recovery along with older, smaller and less efficient units closing in Wausau, Green Bay and Sheboygan.
“Adding a natural gas combined cycle generating unit to our existing Fox Energy Center is the best value for customers in the long term,” Paul Spicer, WPS vice president of energy supply, said in a news release. “Owning the generation instead of buying electric capacity, even if available, provides much greater opportunity to control costs and reduce risk.”
Spicer adds the natural gas unit would protect customers if more stringent environmental regulations are put into place.
The project would create up to 400 construction jobs and 10 permanent full-time jobs. It would also increase shared revenue for the village of Wrightstown, town of Kaukauna and Outagamie County.
WPS expects the state Public Service Commission to make a decision on the project later this year. If approved, construction would begin next year, with the unit starting to operate in 2019.
