Weyauwega Pipeline Upgrades Complete: TC Energy Finishes Wisconsin Reliability Project

Taylor Berndt
Nov 6
3 min read

WEYAUWEGA/FREMONT- TC Energy’s Pipeline Project otherwise known as The Wisconsin Reliability Project (WRP) - a $700 million energy infrastructure investment by TC Energy, is now complete and officially in service, with a significant portion of the work taking place right here in Waupaca County.

Map highlighting TC Energy's Weyauwega Fremont pipeline upgrade. Text promotes improved reliability, efficiency, and local growth.

As part of the project, TC Energy replaced aging sections of its ANR Pipeline system, which transports natural gas throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois. The upgrades are aimed at improving reliability, meeting future energy demand, and reducing emissions through modernized technology.

Weyauwega Compressor Station Receives Major Overhaul

In Weyauwega, TC Energy installed two new 3,750-horsepower compressor units equipped with fuel-switching technology, replacing older gas-powered units to improve efficiency and reliability.

A new electric substation was also built at the site, which TC Energy says will help reduce direct greenhouse gas emissions from operations. In addition, sections of smaller-diameter pipeline were replaced with larger lines, increasing system capacity and helping serve growing regional energy needs.

Video provided by TC Energy

What a Compressor Station Does

Natural gas moves through pipelines under high pressure, but that pressure gradually decreases as it travels. Compressor stations are strategically placed along the system to re-pressurize the gas and keep it moving toward utilities, factories, and homes across the state.

Each station uses large turbine or electric-motor units to compress and control gas flow. The new hybrid units installed in Weyauwega can switch between natural gas and electric power, giving TC Energy more flexibility to operate efficiently while reducing emissions.

In simple terms, the Weyauwega station acts like a booster pump for Wisconsin’s natural gas network, maintaining steady energy delivery, especially during high-demand winter months when heating and power generation needs peak.

These upgrades position Weyauwega as an important link in Wisconsin’s energy network while supporting the state’s long-term environmental and economic goals.

Diagram titled "What a Natural Gas Compressor Does," showing a flow from pipeline to compressor station, increasing pressure to utility, factory, home.

Pipeline Work Through Waupaca County

According to TC Energy, the project included approximately 24 miles of new pipeline across Waupaca, Outagamie, and Winnebago Counties, with about 9.6 miles of that work occurring in Waupaca County, stretching from County Highway X in the Town of Royalton to U.S. Highway 45 in the Town of Caledonia.

Map of Wisconsin and Illinois showing pipeline routes. Blue lines mark pipelines, triangles for meter stations, and squares for valves. Locations labeled. — Map provided by TC Energy

Local Economic Ripple

While the construction work itself was mostly underground, its effects were easy to see across the Weyauwega–Fremont area. During the two-year project, hundreds of skilled workers stayed locally in campgrounds, hotels, and short-term rentals, filling local restaurants and boosting small-town business revenue.

“Projects like this remind us how connected our area is to Wisconsin’s larger economy,” said Lisa Socha, President of the Fremont Chamber of Commerce and owner of the Hotel Fremont. “During construction, our local restaurants, hotels, and campgrounds stayed busy with crews working in the area. That ripple effect matters for small towns like ours, it brings new faces to the community and supports the businesses that keep Fremont going year-round.”

TC Energy estimates the Wisconsin Reliability Project generated $1.1 billion in total economic output, supported 4,300 jobs, and contributed $68 million in tax revenue to Wisconsin. The company partnered with Michels Corporation and Precision Pipeline, both Wisconsin-based contractors, to keep a large portion of spending within the state.

Future Outlook

With Wisconsin’s natural gas demand projected to rise by 45% by 2035, TC Energy is already planning additional projects in the state. The upcoming ANR Heartland Project does not include Waupaca County, while the ANR Northwoods Project remains in early planning.

The company expects its investment to improve long-term reliability for residents, farms, and industries throughout the region.