IBEW 2150 Supports WE Energies Plan to Convert Oak Creek Power Plant from Coal to Natural Gas

Milwaukee, WI – March 25, 2025 – Jim Meyer, IBEW 2150 Business Manager

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2150 strongly supports We Energies’ efforts to convert the Oak Creek Power Plant from coal to natural gas.

There are several reasons my membership supports this effort:

The first is reliability. The Company has taken a strong stance to decarbonize its power generation fleet and is moving towards a goal to get rid of coal by 2032.

However, a utility cannot prudently take this step without ensuring that the transition to wind and solar and other forms of clean energy is not backstopped by a reliable energy source like natural gas that is planned for the Oak Creek site. We all know in Wisconsin the sun isn’t always shining and the wind doesn’t always blow.

As workers in the utility industry, we are trained to do whatever we can to keep the lights on for customers—interruptions to service should be avoided if at all possible. Converting Oak Creek to gas supports that mission.

While we all support a cleaner, healthier environment and decarbonization efforts we have to be smart about the transition. We all take for granted that the power will be there when we need it. Without back-up power like Oak Creek will provide using natural gas, reliability is at risk.

Another reason is jobs.  The work at Oak Creek to convert generation from coal to natural gas and to construct a liquified natural gas facility will produce hundreds of well-paying union construction jobs for Local 2150 members who are also members of the communities We Energies serves and likely friends and neighbors of yours. These workers are skilled craftsmen and women and experts at these tasks. The Company has committed to using skilled Wisconsin union labor.

The economic impact to the community should not be overlooked—particularly because the work that will occur will produce a generation facility that has three primary benefits for all of us:

• Natural gas is cleaner than coal—in fact the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin’s environmental assessment of the project said it would produce a little more than a quarter of the emissions the coal plant does today
• Natural gas generation is cheaper for consumers
• And lastly, this work union members will perform will ensure reliability--the lights will come on even when wind and solar power is unavailable because of our Wisconsin weather.

Local 2150 strongly supports the conversion of the Oak Creek Power Plant and believes for the reasons stated above everyone here should as well.