Brown County Rejects Offer Related to Coal Piles

GREEN BAY, WI- (WGBW) – The Brown County Board of Supervisors voted last night (Wednesday, March 19, 2025) to reject the offer of C. Reiss to purchase the former Pulliam Power Plant site. That purchase is integral to the plan to move coal piles from downtown Green Bay to the Pulliam site. 

Following a lengthy closed session discussing the Pulliam site and C. Reiss’ offer to purchase it for 3.5 million or lease it for 25 years, the board voted 24 to 2 to keep negotiating with C. Reiss and seven other companies interested in the Pulliam site. 

Brown County owns the former Pulliam site — purchased by the county with the intent to relocate the coal piles and free up the prime real estate property in Green Bay’s downtown area. Studies show the land the piles currently occupy could garner $150 million in new development for the City of Green Bay and Brown County.

Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich, former Mayors Jim Schmitt and Paul Jadin issued a rare joint statement, along with Green Bay Council President Brian Johnson in support of the C. Reiss plan.

“For decades, under our respective tenures and beyond, the City of Green Bay has pursued the goal of relocating the coal piles away from our downtown waterfront to benefit our community, our port, and our regional economy. Recognizing the existing window of opportunity is closing quickly, we urge Brown County leaders to seize the moment and work collaboratively with C. Reiss toward a sound and equitable agreement that uses the allocated grant funds for their intended purpose in a way that brings the relocation project to fruition.,” the statement read. “The decision before the County Board and C. Reiss is a legacy-making opportunity to transform our riverfront for generations to come, and we urge them both to choose a solution of which they and the community can be proud.”

The Board said an alternate site at the Fox River Terminal, owned by the City of Green Bay, could be used for the coal piles. 

The vote by Brown County places the plan to move the coal piles back to the beginning of negotiations between C. Reiss, The City of Green Bay, and Brown County.