Burning Coal, Burning Cash

In 2008, Wisconsin spent $853 million to import all the coal used by its power plants from nine other states. The state is the 5th most dependent on net imports as a share of total power use (68%). We Energies is the largest importer, spending $313 million, with its Pleasant Prairie facility being the most import-dependent site. To reduce this dependence, the document suggests expanding energy efficiency resource standards and leveraging renewable energy, noting that Wisconsin has the technical potential to generate 4.2 times its 2008 electricity needs from renewables, primarily wind and bioenergy.

• Wisconsin is heavily dependent on imported coal for its electricity, spending $853 million in 2008 to import all the coal burned by its power plants from nine different states.
• Compared to other US states, Wisconsin ranks 5th in dependence on net imports as a share of total power use, at 68 percent, and 12th in total net import spending, net import weight (25 million tons), and net imports relative to gross state product (0.35 percent).
• We Energies is the state's largest electricity provider and the biggest importer of coal, accounting for $313 million in imports, which is approximately 30 percent of the state's total. Its Pleasant Prairie facility in Kenosha County is the most import-dependent facility, spending $127 million in 2008.
• Wisconsin has significant renewable energy potential, with the technical capacity to generate 4.2 times its 2008 electricity needs, primarily through wind and bioenergy. Current law requires utilities to use renewable resources for 10 percent of the state's power by 2015.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2010). Burning Coal, Burning Cash. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-Wisconsin.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Burning Coal, Burning Cash. 2010. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-Wisconsin.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Burning Coal, Burning Cash |date=May 2010 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-Wisconsin.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2010burning, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Burning Coal, Burning Cash}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2010}, month = may, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-Wisconsin.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }