#FridayGiving: We Energies is proud to support the caregivers at Kathy’s House

As we thank the incredible doctors and nurses working around the clock to save lives, it’s also important to thank caregivers working behind the scenes. 

Kathy’s House helps people when they need it the most — by providing lodging and a supportive environment to families dealing with the illness of a loved one. The We Energies Foundation is proud to support their mission. 

Kathy’s House is a non-profit hospital guest house — the only one in the area that serves patients of all ages who need to travel to Milwaukee for medical care. Without the organization, many families could not afford to be with their loved ones during medical treatment. 

To learn more about Kathy’s House or to make a donation, visit their website.

#FridayGiving

Since the early 1980s, We Energies has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in communities across the state.

Read more about our yearlong effort to highlight some of the incredible organizations we support here.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you don’t miss any #FridayGiving posts.

They’re back! Peregrine falcons return to nest boxes at We Energies power plants

Looking for something to do with your kids while they’re out of school? Starting today parents and children can learn about an endangered species live via webcam. Peregrine falcons are back at We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) power plants. Tune into our high-definition cameras 24/7 and watch as the raptors find love, lay eggs and raise their young. 

This year there are nest box cameras at five We Energies and WPS facilities:

• Valley Power Plant in Milwaukee
• Port Washington Generating Station
• Oak Creek Power Plant
• Weston Power Plant in Rothschild
• WPS building in Green Bay

All five cameras are hosted on the WEC Energy Group website, the parent company of We Energies and WPS.

Last year, the first eggs were laid around the end of March. Check in early and often to make sure you don’t miss any activity. You can also follow the We Energies’ Facebook page and Twitter feed for updates.

Peregrine falcon program
We Energies and WPS are honored to be a part of a statewide effort to restore the peregrine falcon population. The Department of Natural Resources added peregrine falcons to Wisconsin’s endangered species list in the 1970s.

Since our first successful nest box in the mid-90s, 402 peregrine falcons have hatched at our facilities. The falcons are drawn to tall structures along Lake Michigan or major rivers, which make many of the We Energies and WPS facilities ideal nesting sites.

The program is another way We Energies and WPS demonstrate environmental stewardship. From helping endangered animals and restoring natural habitats, to building new solar facilities and reducing carbon emissions, we are committed to a cleaner future.

#FridayGiving: Competition and camaraderie elevate We Energies team at Fight for Air Climb

Employees and family members made every step count at the 2020 Fight for Air Climb to support the American Lung Association on March 7. Each participant climbed 47 floors and took over 1,000 steps to the top of the US Bank Center in downtown Milwaukee.

We Energies has supported the event over the years though sponsorships and team participation.

In what has now become a tradition, several company teams compete against each other for dollars raised and best climb times. The “pole climber challenge” makes the event even more interesting. Two of the teams wear over 20 pounds of gear commonly worn by utility line mechanics.

Donning hard hats, safety glasses, utility belts filled with tools and steel-toed boots, Team “Weapons of Mass Development” and Team “Power Up Pole Climbers” had a friendly competition while racing to the top. Team Weapons of Mass Development were the champions with the fastest overall time.

We Energies employee Dave Harris says that the camaraderie is one of the things that stands out every year. “The encouragement is amazing. You hear everyone saying keep going, we can do this.”

Harris says it’s important to remember and talk about why they climb year after year. “We all talk about who we are climbing for. For me, I climb for my aunt who has COPD. We do this event because it’s a great cause and mission.”

#FridayGiving

Since the early 1980s, We Energies has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in communities across the state.

Read more about our year-long effort to highlight some of the incredible organizations we support here.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you don’t miss any #FridayGiving posts.

Where are they now?: Jeffery

It’s always exciting when we get an update on the peregrine falcons hatched at our power plants. That’s why we attach tracking bands to their feet before they leave the nest — so they can be identified wherever they end up.

“Jeffery,” banded (b/blu) 52/E, was born at the now-retired Pleasant Prairie Power Plant in 2016. He was the only surviving chick of his clutch and named by third-graders at Jeffery Elementary School in Kenosha.

Four years later, he’s a Hoosier! Jeffery was photographed on Christmas Day last year near Irvington, Indiana. But he’s been nesting at a site in downtown Indianapolis since 2018. Thank you to Bret Furgason for sharing this picture with us.

Peregrine falcon program

We Energies and our sister utility, Wisconsin Public Service (WPS), are proud to be part of a statewide effort to restore the peregrine falcon population. Since our first successful nest box in the late 90s, 402 peregrine falcons have hatched at our facilities.

The program is another way We Energies and WPS demonstrate environmental stewardship. From helping endangered animals and restoring natural habitats, to building new solar facilities and reducing carbon emissions, we are committed to a cleaner future.

Where are they now?: CJ

We never know if we’ll get an update on our peregrine falcons after they’ve flown the nest. Peregrines can fly hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Their name, appropriately, means wanderer. That’s why we love to hear from people who spot our peregrines in the wild.

“CJ,” a female with band number (b/blu) 54/W, was one of four chicks hatched at the now-retired Pleasant Prairie Power Plant in 2018, the last nesting season at the plant. We have since found a replacement site where CJ’s parents have happily relocated. 

CJ (second from left) with her siblings, Windsor, Lisa and Rimfire.

 CJ was spotted in Castleton, Indiana, just outside of Indianapolis. Jeff Timmins sent us this picture from Christmas Eve that showed CJ’s bands.

Peregrine falcon program

We Energies and our sister utility, Wisconsin Public Service (WPS), are proud to be part of a statewide effort to restore the peregrine falcon population. Since our first successful nest box in the late 90s, 402 peregrine falcons have hatched at our facilities.

The program is another way We Energies and WPS demonstrate environmental stewardship. From helping endangered animals and restoring natural habitats, to building new solar facilities and reducing carbon emissions, we are committed to a cleaner future.

My mom is a superhero - special video spotlights We Energies’ talented female employees

In honor of International Women’s Day, We Energies talked to the people who know some of our female employees best, their daughters. In the heartwarming video, the girls talk about how their moms inspire them and what they have learned from their moms.

More than 1,500 women work at We Energies and its parent corporation, WEC Energy Group. From engineers to line mechanics to service area managers to customer care representatives, these talented women keep the lights on and energy flowing.