We are writing to raise concern about power use in Kenosha County, prompted by growing public concern about incoming data center projects. Specifically, we want to identify and speak about the proposed Red Oak Ridge Energy Center to be built across from the Mount Pleasant data center on Hwy. 195. The power plant is in Kenosha County and will be able to generate up to 1,186 megawatts, becoming the second largest power plant in the state.
We are opposed to the construction of this power plant because of the negative effects it will have on the health of Wisconsin’s citizens. Climate Solutions for Health, an organization at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, estimates that the Red Oak plant will shorten the lives of 90 people in 30 years of operation.1 Another recent analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists, a national advocacy group founded at MIT, showed that replacing fossil fuel plants with wind, solar, and batteries could avoid billions in health costs in Wisconsin by 2050.2 That amount is similar to the one billion, seventy million dollars in monetized health-related damages Climate Solutions for Health in Madison estimates this planned power plan will cause.
We applaud the Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission’s recent decision to force data centers to pay for 100% of their electricity use. However, we find it alarming that many Wisconsinites will need the money saved on their electric bills to pay for increased health care costs.
Any members of the public who are interested in speaking out about the proposed power plant can do so until May 26th at the following link: t.ly/qPIe7
References:
1. https://www.wpr.org/news/report-planned-southeast-wisconsin-gas-plants-could-lead-to-premature-deaths-air-pollution
2. https://www.ucs.org/about/news/powering-wi-data-centers-clean-energy-health- climate
Authored by:
Ron Story, Kenosha resident
Stephanie Knezz, Kenosha County Board Supervisor, District 2
