The Sierra Club released its annual Dirty Truth Report, which evaluates utility companies’ progress on the clean energy transition. We Energies received a score of 4 out of 100, representing a significant decline from its initial assessment six years ago and marking the utility’s poorest performance to date.
The low rating stems from multiple factors, including We Energies’ repeated postponement of the Oak Creek coal plant’s retirement and its plans to add 1.2 gigawatts of new gas generation capacity by 2035, which would increase the utility’s existing gas infrastructure by approximately 50 percent. The expansion of fossil fuel capacity is largely driven by We Energies’ efforts to attract artificial intelligence data center development to Wisconsin, a strategy that generates additional revenue while shifting costs to existing customers.
We Energies is currently seeking a 14 percent increase in customer utility bills, raising concerns about the allocation of expenses related to data center operations. The Public Service Commission received over 1,800 public comments regarding the rate proposal, with 91 percent opposing the increase. Among those opposed, affordability emerged as the dominant concern, while a substantial portion called for reductions in company profits and executive compensation.
The Dirty Truth Report evaluates utilities nationwide based on coal retirement timelines, planned gas expansion, and renewable energy deployment. Across 76 utilities assessed, the aggregate score was 7 out of 100, marking an eight-point decrease from the previous year and the lowest national score in the report’s history. Sierra Club officials characterized the findings as evidence that utility companies are prioritizing shareholder returns over customer interests and the clean energy transition, particularly as data center demand drives investment in fossil fuel infrastructure rather than renewable alternatives.
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