Liquified natural gas storage facility (Rock County, Wisconsin)

We plan to construct a liquified natural gas (LNG) storage facility near our Riverside Energy Center campus in Rock County, Wisconsin. This LNG facility can directly serve our natural gas customers and provide the fuel that generates electricity for our communities. This project will ensure a consistent, cost-effective, reliable supply of gas is readily available to provide the energy our customers count on. 

Photo: Rendering of the new storage facility

How will this facility benefit customers?

About two-thirds of Wisconsin households use natural gas to stay warm in the winter. Our customers count on natural gas during Wisconsin’s coldest days. This new facility will let us buy and store liquified natural gas when prices are low to help protect customers from sudden price jumps caused by extreme weather. It also enhances reliability by providing an additional source of natural gas, especially during the cold winter months when demand for natural gas is typically high.

Project timeline: We plan to begin construction in 2026 and the site will be operational in 2029, pending regulatory approval.

LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state. It takes up approximately 600 times less space than nonliquefied natural gas. This lets us safely and economically store it until customers need it.

Odor

LNG has little to no odor while in storage. We only add odorant to make it detectable when we send it to the pipeline.

Safety

LNG is colorless and nontoxic. In case of a leak or spill, the vapor instantly evaporates, leaving no residue or impact on animals, fish or groundwater.

We use strict safety systems to prevent and detect leaks, including advanced monitoring and emergency shutdown tools. Additionally, LNG is more stable than other fuels, and the ignition temperature is approximately twice as high as that of gasoline. LNG inside a tank is stored at very low pressure, which means the chance of an incident is very low. Should there ever be an issue at the facility, we will have emergency response plans in place and work with local emergency responders.

We store LNG in a containment tank made of a special steel alloy. This primary tank is surrounded by a ring of insulation and covered by a thick concrete outer shell for extra safety and protection. LNG production dates back to the early 1900s. Over the past 50 years, LNG has one of the best safety records in the oil and gas industry. The Department of Transportation, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission provide rigorous regulatory oversight to make sure our site meets strict safety standards. With an airport nearby, we also consulted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and it has confirmed our site doesn’t pose a safety risk to their operations.

Environmental impact

We’re working with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to make sure the project meets or exceeds all permit requirements and regulatory and environmental standards.

The facility design includes measures to control and minimize emissions, reducing potential health hazards. Regular monitoring ensures compliance with all federal, state and local guidelines.