GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — It’s been more than six decades since efforts began to move the unsightly coal piles from the riverfront in Green Bay just south of downtown, but a bill passed Tuesday in the state assembly would provide the funding to do just that.
The bill uses $5 million worth of American Recovery Plan Funding to finance moving the coal piles from the C. Reiss Coal Slip just south of Green Bay’s downtown to a new site, the former WPS Pulliam Plant property.
“This is the holy grail, once-in-a-lifetime, Haley’s Comet of economic development opportunities for the city of Green Bay,” said Rep. Dave Steffan (R-Howard), a sponsor of the bill. “We if we get this approved and get that $5 million, within four years will be able to talk about massive redevelopment on the riverfront of Green Bay.”
It would free up 40 acres of riverfront for development. The bill may head to Governor Tony Evers desk later this fall if it makes it through the state senate. Evers had spoke in Green Bay last month in front of those very same coal piles, having added funding to move them in his 2022 budget plan. Evers budget priorities were ultimately rejected by Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee.
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