Natural gas plant proposal concerns neighbors, excites project leaders in Walworth County
DARIEN, Wis. (CBS 58) – A proposal to build a natural gas plant in rural Walworth County is getting varying reactions from people who live and work in the area.
The Foundry Ridge Energy Center is a 324-megawatt natural gas peaker project located in Walworth County, proposed by Invenergy. Those behind the project, including Johnny Shelton, say it will generate energy to meet the nation's growing demand for electricity.
“It is a peaking project, which means it only operates during times of high electrical demand,” Shelton said. “We’re seeing electrical demand grow across the region. Projects like Foundry Ridge provide energy to the region to support that demand.”
Shelton said the development would add $940,000 in additional local revenue. Derek D’Auria, the Executive Director for Walworth Economic Development Alliance, said the center could attract new families to the area and would help the tax base.
“Data centers have been really big in the news lately, it’s bringing attention to the energy grid and how much energy is being used,” D’Auria said. “It’s of interest to us.”
Garrik Harwick, president of the Southern Wisconsin Building Trades Council, says the center would add up to 150 construction jobs, plus full-time operations roles.
“These jobs are going to people in your neighborhood,” Harwick said.
People who live near the proposed build site have created a petition aiming to stop the plans for the project.
Amy McKinney lives near the proposed location for the plant and has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Her family has lived in Darien for five decades. Unable to walk, her home has added amenities to make it easier for her to get around.
Amy McKinney
“I don’t have plans to go anywhere else,” McKinney said. This is my home, my life.”
McKinney says in recent years, solar panels have been put up in the neighboring farmland, completely changing the scenery in the community. She believes a natural gas center is a step too far.
“Once they start, they don’t stop,” McKinney said. “I feel very powerful about it that they need to go away.”
Additionally, McKinney said the natural gas plant raises environmental and health questions for the community. Shelton says they’ve had a number of open houses with community members at their office to address concerns.
“We worked diligently with the DNR and other state agencies minimizing the impact as much as possible,” Shelton said.
Headquartered in Illinois, Invenergy says it invests almost $500 million annually in the home communities where its projects are located.
If the development continues, the natural gas plant’s construction could begin as early as this year and would open in 2028.