Coal piles along the Fox River in Green Bay, April 11, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Two area Republican lawmakers want to keep the momentum going on moving Green Bay’s coal piles by fully funding an expansion of port operations at the mouth of the Fox River.
State Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto, and State Rep. Ben Franklin, R-De Pere, are introducing a budget motion to fund the rest of the port redevelopment project at the former Pulliam Power Plant site.
The two released the following statement:
The County Board decision to move Northeast Wisconsin forward in commercial port development is the first step in a transformational project.
With this important step underway, we are now confidently presenting a request for appropriation in this biennial budget so Brown County can complete this once-in-a-generation expansion, making the Port fully operational.
Redeveloping and expanding the Port of Green Bay will bolster Northeast Wisconsin’s critical connection to the global supply chain, and give an economic boost to the entire State of Wisconsin.
Brown County has gathered about $33 million in federal and state grants to expand port operations. However, the county learned in the summer of 2023 the cost of what they wanted to accomplish had increased to more than $50 million.
The county turned to a phased approach to start on port redevelopment, while looking for ways to fund the rest of the work.
The Port of Green Bay applied for $25 million in federal assistance, but learned in June of last year the money was not granted.
The improvements the Port of Green Bay would like to do at the mouth of the Fox River includes construction of a new dock wall, dredging part of the river to allow ships access to the new site, construction of a stormwater detention basin, and installation of mooring features.
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