We Energies requests Presque Isle Plant closing

Six weeks after losing its largest customer in Cliffs Natural Resources, We Energies has requested permission to close its Presque Isle Power Plant.

According to the Associated Press, the Milwaukee-based utility could shut down the plant unless it works out a deal with the Midwest power grid operator.

We Energies lost more than 85 percent of its energy demand in Michigan after the Eagle and Tilden Mine switched energy providers due to four rate hikes over the course of the past five years. As a result, We Energies is reconsidering their joint venture with Wolverine Power Cooperative, which was planning to invest more than $100 million to reduce air pollution. To date, the energy titan has about 1 million customers in Wisconsin and Michigan and close to 30,000 in the U.P.

No word as of yet, on the fate of the 170 workers at the U.P. Plant.