Megan Wittman, megan.wittman@sierraclub.org
La Crosse, WI – Today Sierra Club hosted a press conference outside of Dairyland Power Cooperative in opposition of Dairyland Power’s proposed gas plant, the Nemadji Trail Energy Center, that they’ve co-proposed with Minnesota Power and Basin Electric Power Cooperative that would be built in Superior, Wisconsin.
With Governor Evers’ reelection and implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), utility companies have more opportunities than ever to commit to clean energy. Instead of going forward with Nemadji Trail Energy Center, utilities like Dairyland Power and its partners have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform its energy portfolio by reducing its contribution to global climate change and to air pollution in Wisconsin by building new solar, wind, and battery resources.
Investing in clean energy, rather than building the proposed gas plant, would additionally drastically reduce costs. Failing to take advantage of the opportunities through the IRA is not only bad for the climate, but for the whole community. Assuming the Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC) would run from 2025-2040, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the social cost of carbon would be $2.15 billion.
“The only way to take effective action on the climate crisis is to move away from fossil fuels and toward 100% clean and renewable energy, as fast as possible. Investing in more fossil fuels– and locking us into using them for years to come– recklessly ignores science and the growing consensus in Wisconsin, the Midwest, our country, and the world. Fossil fuels cannot deliver a sustainable, livable future for our children and grandchildren. As a resident of Wisconsin, I’m calling on Dairyland to cancel plans for NTEC and make the transition to clean energy,” said Jo Haberman, Dairyland Customer.
“With the implementation of the IRA, Dairyland has more opportunities and economic incentives than ever to invest in clean energy. This decision to ignore clean energy pursuits and continue to forge ahead with the construction of a dirty gas plant is completely irresponsible. Wisconsin’s environment is going to suffer, and Dairyland’s customers will have unnecessarily high costs. The EPA estimated that the social cost of carbon for this fossil fuel plant would be more than $2 billion, which is unreasonable given the alternatives available,” said Jadine Sonoda, Sierra Club Wisconsin Campaign Coordinator.
"The Driftless Region has been significantly impacted by the increased frequency and severity of flooding triggered by climate change, especially in rural areas served by the electric cooperatives supplied by Dairyland Power. We know that fossil fuel combustion is the largest single driver of climate change. Yet Dairyland Power, based right here in the Driftless, wants to build a brand-new fossil gas-burning power plant, which will further contribute to the looming climate crisis. We are asking Dairyland to invest in clean, renewable energy instead, because our communities can't take even more extreme weather events,” said Kathy Allen, Sierra Club Coulee Region Group President.
“Every year for the rest of your life will be one of the hottest ever recorded. The burning of fossil fuels releases enormous amounts of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere and ocean resulting in rapid global heating. Global heating causes more wildfires, droughts, floods, and hurricanes with greater power and more rainfall causing harm to people and damage to agricultural, educational, and health infrastructure. As Earth warms, we can expect a decline in agricultural and seafood harvests and forced migrations of people due to extreme heat and sea level rise. Combustion of fossil fuels is also the major cause of air pollution. The emissions from the Nemadji Trail Energy Center will ultimately harm every person on Earth, particularly younger persons. You can learn more here,” said Dr. Bruce Krawisz of the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute and member of Wisconsin Health Professionals for Climate Action.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.