WE Energies To Start Building Coal Pile Wind Barrier

OAK CREEK, WI — WE Energies has received approval to build an approximately 4.5-acre wind barrier around the southern and eastern portions of their outdoor open-air coal storage pile to address multi-year coal dust issues.

According to city officials, the Oak Creek Plan Commission approved the plans during a Tuesday, Feb. 12 meeting. City documents state that the wind barrier will be mounted on 111 poles that will be 36 inches in diameter at their base and 100 feet tall. Officials said the barrier will be able to withstand wind speeds of up to 95 miles per hour.

During the Feb. 12 meeting, Oak Creek Assistant Fire Chief Kressuk explained that the Fire Department had a concern that coal dust could accumulate against the barrier and that it would be incumbent upon WE Energies to be sure the dust does not build up.

WE Energies said they are looking to start receiving the materials in March, foundation drilling would take place in April, and the project would be complete by the end of August.

Greg Millard, an area resident told the Plan Commission and WE Energies officials that he was concerned that the wind barrier was not going to go around the entire 85-foot-tall coal pile.

"It’s not surrounding the whole pile. It’s going to go over the top of that. Mark my words. It’s going to hit that, go over the pile, and it’s going to launch it over the berm you put by Haas Park," he said.

According to meeting documents, Haas continued: "Why not do one on the south pile too? “Respectfully, the south pile is part of the problem too."