Regulatory Update: Wisconsin Public Service Commission Reviews Rochester Lateral Pipeline Project

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is reviewing an application by Wisconsin Electric Power Company to construct the Rochester Lateral Pipeline, a $210 million project that would transport natural gas from Oak Creek to Kenosha and Racine counties. Environmental and health concerns have been raised about the project, including its potential to exacerbate climate change, air pollution, and health harms to pipeline workers and adjacent communities.

Key Takeaways:

• The Rochester Lateral Pipeline project is part of a larger constellation of gas infrastructure projects in Southeast Wisconsin, including new gas turbines at Oak Creek Power Plant and a liquified natural gas facility at Oak Creek.
• The PSC has not required the applicant to demonstrate a comprehensive need for the project or conduct a thorough environmental review.
• Environmental and health concerns have been raised about the project, including its potential to exacerbate climate change, air pollution, and health harms to pipeline workers and adjacent communities.
• The applicant has not provided sufficient information on plans to convert coal units at Oak Creek's Elm Road Generating Station to natural gas.
• The Commission has been criticized for not considering the Rochester Lateral Pipeline project in the same environmental review document as other related projects.
• The project would transfer natural gas from Oak Creek to Kenosha and Racine counties, traversing 33 miles through three counties.
• The facility would cost over $210 million and has been met with opposition due to concerns regarding the project's environmental impact and potential harm to communities.

Statistics:

• The Rochester Lateral Pipeline project is estimated to cost over $210 million.
• The project would transport natural gas from Oak Creek to Kenosha and Racine counties, traversing 33 miles through three counties.
• The applicant anticipates a 65% total system firm peak demand increase from 2023-2024 to 2027-2028.
• The applicant's electric generation customers' request for additional 477,000 Dth firm natural gas in 2027 represents 61% of the total demand growth by 2027-2028.
• If the ERGS conversion is not approved, the applicant would reduce the 30-inch portion of the Rochester Lateral pipeline to 24-inch, resulting in an estimated total project cost decrease of approximately $27 million.

Sources:

• Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) Application of Wisconsin Electric Power Company for Authority to Construct the Rochester Lateral Project
• Walnut Way Conservation Corp Initial Brief of Opposition to the Rochester Lateral Pipeline Project
• Public Hr'g Trp. (comments by Brittany Keyes, Julie Alberth, Kat Clawes, Abby Novinska-Lois)
• Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) Prehearing Conf. Memo, PSC Ref.# 536026.