We Energies expects to have a new $1.2 billion natural-gas powered generating plant online in Oak Creek in about four years. The utility has filed proposals with state regulators to build the 1,100-megawatt plant, a smaller natural-gas generating facility near its Paris solar farm and 33 miles of gas pipelines to supply the new installations and a previously proposed liquefied natural gas storage facility in Oak Creek.

In all, the proposals outline about $1.8 billion in spending, all of which requires approval from the Wisconsin Public Service Commission.

According to filings with the PSC, the spending includes $1.2 billion to build a new natural-gas generating plant on land south of Milwaukee that today includes the Oak Creek Power Plant and Elm Road Generating station. The plant would consist of five, 220 megawatt General Electric turbines, giving it about the same capacity as the Oak Creek plant, a coal-burning plant that We Energies will begin retiring this year. The company expects the plant to be complete in late 2027 or early 2028.

It will spend $280 million to install seven 18.8 megawatt reciprocating internal combustion engines near the company's Paris Solar Farm in Kenosha County. The 128 megawatt installation is expected to be complete in 2026.

$180 million will be spent to build 33 miles of gas pipeline connecting the Oak Creek and Paris installations to existing natural gas infrastructure.

About $200 million will be used to build a liquefied natural gas storage system on the site to ensure an adequate fuel supply for the new generating plant, natural gas customers, and the eventual conversion of the Elm Road Generating Station.