The demand for natural gas infrastructure in the Upper Midwest is being driven by a rising demand from utilities, industrial load, data centers and coal retirements. As demand for natural gas is growing in the region, pipeline capacity between the Chicago hub and Wisconsin is becoming a binding constraint. Two projects help alleviate the strain: TC Energy’s Wisconsin Reliability Project (WRP) and DT Midstream’s Guardian 3 expansion.
TC Energy’s Wisconsin Reliability Project (WRP) on ANR Pipeline added 144 MMcf/d back in Nov 2025. The project was backed by local area distribution and electric generation companies in markets that have recently announced significant coal fired generation retirements.
DT Midstream’s Guardian 3 expansion on Guardian Pipeline is still under development. The project closed its initial open season in July 2025 but had enough interest to expand further in Oct 2025. The planned project now is adding a total of 540 MMcf/d with an expected in-service date in Nov 2028. The project is backed by 5 investment grade utilities under 20 year contracts.
Together, these expansions add nearly 680 MMcf/d of new deliverability, positioning Wisconsin as a demand-led growth market for natural gas. This will continue to be a region to watch as Microsoft and Meta among others are targeting the Wisconsin and Illinois areas to site their data center projects in the coming years.
Why It Matters
● Gas demand growth driving infrastructure investment
Incremental demand in Wisconsin is being met through pipeline upgrades and expansions, not new upstream supply.
● Infrastructure follows load
Data centers, utility demand, and coal retirements are now the primary drivers of Midwest gas investment.
● Contract-backed expansions reduce risk
Both projects are supported by long-term agreements with regulated utilities, anchoring volumes and revenue.
● Chicago-to-Wisconsin corridor gains strategic weight
The ANR and Guardian systems are emerging as critical conduits between national supply hubs and Upper Midwest demand.
What the Map Shows
The Rextag Energy DataLink map focuses on the infrastructure that directly enables Wisconsin’s incremental gas demand.
● Pipelines shown
ANR Pipeline and Guardian Pipeline, the two systems responsible for nearly all new deliverability into Wisconsin.
● Compressor upgrades and delivery points
Including Kewaskum and Weyauwega, where compression enhancements increase throughput and system flexibility.
● Chicago hub connectivity
Illustrating how Midwest supply flows north into Wisconsin load centers.
The map intentionally excludes unrelated regional pipelines to keep attention on the infrastructure that materially changes Wisconsin’s gas balance.
Key Expansion Metrics
Wisconsin Reliability Project (WRP) — ANR Pipeline (TC Energy)
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+144 MMcf/d of incremental capacity
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51 miles of pipeline replacement with larger-diameter steel
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Compressor upgrades at Kewaskum and Weyauwega (ANR-operated)
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In service: November 1, 2025
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Capital investment: ~$700 million
Guardian 3 Expansion — Guardian Pipeline (DT Midstream)
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~540 MMcf/d total planned expansion
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~40% increase over current system capacity
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260-mile pipeline serving major Wisconsin load centers
- Expanded following strong shipper interest during open seasons
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Expected in service: November 1, 2028
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Capital investment: ~$890 million
A Deeper Dive with DataLink
Using Rextag Energy DataLink, users can:
● Map pipeline expansions and compressor upgrades by operator
● Analyze incremental deliverability into regulated utility markets
● Track how data center growth reshapes gas infrastructure priorities
● Compare Midwest demand-led growth with supply-driven regions
● Visualize how pipeline investment aligns with long-term contracts
