GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Coal piles have called a portion of the western shore along the Fox River in Green Bay home for more than a century.
The city has been talking about moving the piles for decades and on Thursday, city and state leaders held a meeting about the plan.
“We just wanted to have a discussion with WPS and see if we could work together to help develop our waterfront and these are great corporate citizens and it was very positive,” said Jim Schmitt, Green Bay mayor.
As FOX 11 Investigates reported a few months ago, the Pulliam Power Plant near the mouth of the Fox River could be a potential site for the coal piles. The WPS plant will retire its coal-fired units the fall.
“We anticipate we will be having further discussions not only with our local elected officials but also with other various stakeholders that may be interested or may have some input on this process,” said Matt Cullen, WPS spokesman.
A spokesperson from C. Reiss, which owns the coal piles, said the company “has always expressed interest in the potential of relocating.”
“I think we have some homework to look into,” Schmitt said.
State Rep. David Steffen and Rep. Mike Gallagher also attended the meeting and offered their thoughts on potential relocation for the coal piles.
“This is a very first initial discussion and these are the types of things that have to happen. This will be a long road that we’re all going to be on together,” Said State Rep. David Steffen, R-Green Bay.
“This is at the intersection of city policy, county policy, state policy, potentially federal policy particularly if we were talking about any port expansion. That might open up the opportunity for infrastructure grants. I’m on the transportation infrastructure committee so there may be an opportunity there,” said Rep. Mike Gallagher.
Schmitt told FOX 11 he expects more meetings in the future.
