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Action Alert: Tell the DNR to REJECT the Air Permit for Alliant Energy’s proposed Liquified Natural Gas Facility
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
WPL/Alliant Energy is seeking approval to construct a new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility, including two billion cubic feet of storage and associated systems to pretreat, liquefy, store, and vaporize LNG in Beloit, Wisconsin. Right now, the public has an opportunity to weigh in and make their voice heard in the permitting process:
Public Comment accepted via email (david.minkey@wisconsin.gov)
through Tuesday, June 9th, 2026
or via verbal testimony at the
Virtual Public Hearing
Tuesday, June 9th, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Top Asks and Concerns
REJECT this air permit
Clean Air Act Concerns: Alliant Energy has not held a valid TitleV Air Permit for the site (Riverside Energy Center) since 2015. That means that Rock County has not had comprehensive Clean Air Act protections since 2015. No additional air permits should be issued by the DNR to the facility until compliance is achieved.
Health and Cumulative Impacts: This project would exacerbate lung, heart, and other health harms in a community overburdened with utility and industrial pollution.
Environmental Impacts: Methane leaks across the supply chain, posing health and environmental risks and accelerating climate change.
Cost: This $½ billion price tag will be paid for by ratepayers, exacerbating rising energy bills in Alliant’s Service Territory.
Safety Concerns
Consider combustion hazards and emergency management plans to support local communities and first responders, given the size and risk of the facility.
Methane, the main component of “natural gas,” can pose explosion hazards at high enough concentrations in the presence of an ignition source.
Model the predicted rate and extent of methane leaks and emissions across the entire supply chain, including leaks and end use (combustion).
Combusted methane (natural gas) releases numerous air pollutants, carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM), causing serious health risks.
Detail the applicant’s methane leak monitoring plan, using tools like Carbon Mapper, MethaneSAT, or AVIRIS-3 and EMIT, and a public transparency plan for ongoing monitoring efforts.
Detail a facility decommissioning plan, from recycling plant materials, capping all gas sources, fenceline monitoring plan to ensure safety for local communities, remediating any new brownfields, and a binding plan to fund decommissioning.
Even after oil and gas infrastructure is no longer in use, it can still pollute and degrade nearby air quality.
Health Concerns
Complete modeling of health risks associated with hazardous air pollutants found in “natural gas” and methane leaks: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene.
Benzene: The most abundant and dangerous compound of BTEX. It is classified as a “known” human carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, long-term exposure to airborne benzene increases the risk of cancer, especially leukemia, in humans.
Toluene: Low levels of toluene can lead to headaches, dizziness, confusion, and unconsciousness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), higher levels of exposure can lead to nausea, organ damage, and cardiovascular issues. Chronic exposure can lead to cognitive deterioration, such as dementia, reproductive harm, and even hearing or vision loss.
Ethylbenzene: As explained by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, short-term exposure to ethylbenzene can cause eye and respiratory irritation, headache, dizziness, and more. Long-term exposure can have a lasting effect on the nervous system, may cause cancer, and is associated with kidney and liver damage, including tumors.
Xylene: Per the CDC, exposure to this pollutant is associated with numerous health effects, including nervous system damage, respiratory damage, organ damage, gastrointestinal pain, nausea and vomiting, neurological problems, reproductive system disruption, and endocrine disruption.
Energy Cost Concerns
Wisconsin’s power prices are ranked second-highest in the Midwest and the 13th highest in the nation, as utility companies raise rates every year. This project, with a price tag of $512 million, will compound this problem as the cost of the project and guaranteed shareholder returns will be passed to ratepayers.
The percentage of Alliant customers who are energy-burdened, are behind in payments, and have had their energy shut off is too high.
Research shows that energy burden is a social determinant of health. It was more influential on premature mortality, self-reported health, and life expectancy than food and healthcare access (Reames et al., 2021).
Climate Concerns
Methane is a significant driver of climate change. Methane accounts for 11 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and it is more than 28 times as powerful as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.
The extreme weather events we’re already experiencing -- including historic droughts and floods, superstorms, record-breaking wildfires, and heat -- will continue to worsen unless we cut greenhouse gas emissions rapidly. These extreme weather events damage our quality of life, housing, the economy, and increase utility outages (reliability) and costs when infrastructure is damaged.
In 2021, the World Health Organization declared climate change to be “the single biggest health threat facing humanity.”
Studies from the Environmental Defense Fund show that methane leaks from U.S. onshore gas pipelines are occurring between 3.75 times and 8 times greater than estimated by EPA.
The pipelines will cause ecological damage to acres of wetlands, woodlands, and grasslands, destroying and permanently altering acres of habitat.
The Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change explicitly suggests to “avoid all new fossil fuel infrastructure for electricity generation” and “avoid any new natural gas plants.”
Internal memos show that fossil fuel companies are aware of scientific evidence suggesting that the lifecycle emissions from ‘natural’ gas may be equal to those from coal. Gas is not a climate solution and this plant is an example of building new fossil fuel infrastructure that will lock us into decades of dangerous emissions.
What Can You Do?
You can submit public comments (email david.minkey@wisconsin.gov) or speak at the public hearing for this large, methane gas storage and processing facility.
Tell others! Talk to your neighbors, host an event, and/or post on social media! You can also express concerns to local and state leaders.
The permit is open for public comment through Tuesday, June 9th, 2026
Attend the public hearing on Tuesday, June 9th at 1:30 pm via Zoom.
Example Comment Alliant Energy Proposal for LNG Processing & Storage Facility in Rock County, Wisconsin Air pollution control construction permit no. 25-MIN-036. Draft Your Comment! Submit by emailing david.minkey@wisconsin.gov Suggested Comment Format:
When making a written comment, include your credentials: List your credentials after your last name (example: Jane Doe, DNP). This adds a higher level of credibility to the information you are sharing. Example Comment: I am deeply concerned about Alliant’s latest proposal to expand fossil fuel infrastructure in Rock County, and I’m writing to ask the WI DNR to deny the permit. The primary concerns include the applicant not holding a valid Title V Air permit for the site, and thus, being out of compliance with the Clean Air Act. Additional concerns include: air pollution and environmental impacts on the local community and environment. Rock County is already overburdened with industrial air pollution, with the vast majority coming from Alliant Energy’s Riverside Energy Center. The air in Rock County is also under-monitored to not-monitored for many months of the year, and the public health metrics with asthma burden, chronic disease, and early mortality, all worsened by air pollution, are high and concerning. Despite this, the PSC and DNR recently approved a new methane gas plant on the current utility site, and Alliant is seeking approval for additional fossil fuel expansion. This fossil fuel expansion in Rock County must stop. The potential public health, environmental, and financial implications of this proposal cannot be overstated. Four of the main components of methane, or “natural gas,” benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, are known to cause cancer, contribute to cardiovascular issues, cause reproductive harm, and contribute to neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's. There are also significant safety concerns for area first responders with the establishment of such a large, methane gas processing and storage facility. Environmentally, methane is a significant driver of climate change. Methane accounts for 11 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and it is more than 28 times as powerful as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. In 2021, the World Health Organization declared climate change to be “the single biggest health threat facing humanity.” When it comes to methane, or “natural gas,” infrastructure, it’s not IF it leaks, but WHEN. Studies from the Environmental Defense Fund show that methane leaks from U.S. onshore gas pipelines are occurring between 3.75 times and 8 times greater than estimated by the EPA. The cost is also a significant concern. Research indicates that energy burden significantly impacts premature mortality, self-reported health, and life expectancy more than access to healthcare (Reames et al., 2021). High energy burdens are associated with increased rates of asthma, respiratory issues, and mental health challenges (Wells et al., 2015; Brown et al., 2020). The fate of Rock County families is on the line in cases like this. It is the WI DNR’s job to protect the public and our environment from industry and large polluters. Alternatives to new fossil fuel infrastructure, such as renewables and on-site storage, energy efficiency programs, and demand response, all benefit community health and have a lower impact on public health, our environment, and utility bills. Again, please deny this project. Thank you. |
