We Energies faces double threat: COVID-19 & extreme cold
Power utility created COVID bubble for the dozen staffers at controls of power plant
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Updated: 9:38 AM CST Mar 5, 2021
Power utility created COVID bubble for the dozen staffers at controls of power plant
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Updated: 9:38 AM CST Mar 5, 2021
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CHALLENGE IN RECENT WEEKS. 12 NEWS’ KENT WAINSCOTT SPOKE WITH COMPANY EXECUTIVES, AND GIVES US AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK INSIDE THE UTILITY’S OAK CREEK POWER PLANT. WHILE BRUTAL WINTER WEATHER CUT OFF POWER IN TEXAS’ AND OTHER HELD UP TO THE COLD. >> WE’RE WELL PREPARED BECAUSE OUR EQUIPMENT IS DESIGNED FOR IT. OUR PEOPLE AND THE PROCEDURES WE HAVE ARE SET UP FOR THE HARSHEST CONDITIONS OF WINTER. PATRICK: -- REPORTER: WE ENERGIES PRESIDENT TOM METCALFE GAVE 12 NEWS A RARE LOOK INSIDE AT THE COMPANY’S MASSIVE OAK CREEK POWER PLANT CAMPUS. HE SAYS THIS SYSTEM HANDLED THE FIVE TIMES THAT WE DIPPED BELOW ZERO IN THE MATTER OF TWO WEEKS WITHOUT ISSUE, BUT THERE WERE OTHER CHALLENGES ACROSS THE REGION. >> DURING THE VERY VERY COLD PERIOD DURING FEBRUARY WE HAD CONSTRAINTS ON OUR INTERSTATE TRANSMISSION NETWORK. THE PIPELINES THAT BRING GAS INTO THE STATE WERE AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY. >> BUT PERHAPS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OCCURS RIGHT INSIDE THIS ROOM, MAYBE THE MOST FRAGILE PIECE IN THIS WHO PROCESS. >> THAT IS THE MAIN CONTROL ROOM BEHIND THAT BLOCK WALL OVER THERE. REPORTER: AS THE UTILITY BRACED FOR THE COLD KEEPING THE POWER ON ALSO MEANT KEEPING ITS >> THIS IS THE PART THAT NO ONE LESE IS ALLOWED INTO. >> YEAH, THAT ROOM RIGHT THERE, WE HAVE IT LOCKED DOWN FOR JUST THE CONTROL OPERATORS EVER SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED. REPORTER: THE COMPANY CREATED A COVID BUBBLE FOR JUST THE DOZEN STAFFERS AT THE CONTROLS OF THE POWER PLANT WHO ARE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST ANY PROBLEMS THAT OCCUR IN THE SYSTEM. THE COMPANY’S PRESIDENT SAYS, WEATHERING THE PANDEMIC IS PROVING TO BE A BIGGER CONCERN THAN EVEN THE EXTREME COLD. WHAT WORRIES YOU? WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT? >> I’M WORRIED ABOUT COVID. I WANT TO GET THROUGH THIS AND I WANT TO GET OUR EMPLOYEES VACCINATED. PATRICK: THE UTILITY TELLS 12 NEWS THAT CURRENTLY ABOUT 80% OF THE WORKFORCE AT THE OAK CREEK CAMPUS IS WORKING REMOTELY, DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. WEATHERWATCH 12 NOW, WE WERE ALMOST 20 DEGREES COLDER THAN YESTERDAY. THE 30’S FELT CHILLY. >> FUNNY HOW FAST YOU GET USED TO LOW 50’S. IT WAS A BEAUTY YESTERDAY. IT IS NICE TO STILL SEE SOME LIGHT OUT THERE. LOOKING FROM THE TOP OF THE U.S. BANK BUILDING, SUNSETTED 5:45. TEMPERATURE AT 30 DEGREES. OUR FIRST DAY IN THE 50’S OF THE ENTIRE YEAR, BUT MORE 50’S IN THE FORECAST, SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO AS WE WORK OUR WAY TO NEXT WEEK. TONIGHT WILL BE RATHER CHILLY. THE SUNSET TONIGHT AT 5:45. WE WILL TALK ABOUT 40’S AND 50’S COMING UP. PATRICK: THE TRIAL FOR A WOMAN ACCUSED OF SPITTING ON A TEENAGER DURING A PROTEST IN SHOREWOOD WILL REMAIN IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY. A JUDGE DENIED A CHANGE OF VENUE REQUEST. SHE IS CHARGED WITH DISORDERLY CONDUCT WITH A HATE CRIME MODIFIER AFTER VIDEO SHOWED HER SPITTING ON A BLACK TEENAGER DURING A PROTEST LAST SUMMER. SHE IS CHARGED WITH BATTERY TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. POLICE SAY SHE KNEED AN OFFICER IN THE GROIN DURING HER ARREST. KINSINGER -- PUSHING REPUBLICANS TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM DONALD TRUMP. REPORTER: HERE IN THE LAND OF LINCOLN, A NEW AND FIERY DEBATE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY POST-PRESIDENT TRUMP. AT THE CENTER OF THAT, CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER. ONE OF THE HARSHEST CRITICS OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT. >> IT IS TIME FOR A FAMILY DISCUSSION IN PUBLIC ABOUT WHO WE NEED TO BE AND PEOPLE NEED TO CHOOSE SIDES. REPORTER: THE CONGRESSMAN WHOSE DISTRICT BORDER SOUTHERN WISCONSIN HAS CLOSE TIES TO THE AREA AND HE IS CREATING CONTROVERSY WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. THAT PART OF OUR CONVERSATION TONIGHT. PATRICK: YOU CAN WATCH THAT STORY TONIGHT AT 10:00. LOCAL ACTIVIST VAUN MAYES, NOW BACK IN WISCONSIN AFTER TRAVELING TO HELP STORM-RAVAGED AREAS IN TEXAS. 12 NEWS CHERNEY AMHARA SPOKE WITH HIM ABOUT THE QUEST TO HELP. >> THERE’S A GROUP OF US HERE THAT UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN CITY, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS AMERICANS IN GENERAL TO ASSIST WHEREVER WE CAN. REPORTER: MILWAUKEE ACTIVIST VAUN MAYES, NOW BACK FROM STORM-WORN TEXAS, TELLS ME HE’S PROUD OF HOW HIS CITY, MOBILIZED TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED >> WHEN PEOPLE ARE DYING OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO STAY WARM, PEOPLE -- STORES ARE SOLD OUT, PEOPLE CAN GET WATER, ANYBODY SHOULD FEEL SOME TYPE OF WAY ABOUT THAT GOING ON ANYWHERE THAT THEY CAN REACH. REPORTER: THAT HIS WIFE -- WHY HIS GROUP, COMFORCE MKE, INITIATED A CALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA. >> WINTER SUPPLIES, FOOD, ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF. REPORTER: WITH HELP FROM PARTNER GROUPS, COUNTY SUPERVISOR SEQUANNA TAYLOR AND RADIO HOST HOMER BLOW, THE NEW GROUP MKE2TX WAS ON ITS WAY. >> I SAW PEOPLE WHO WERE IN NEED BUT THEY WERE NOT BROKEN. REPORTER: A REMINDER, HE SAYS, A RESILIENT. -- OVER RESILIENCE. PATR