Dive Brief:
- The Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel reports that state regulators have approved a $150 million project to cut pollution at one of the largest coal-fired facilities in the state.
- The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin approved a plan by three utilities to install a catalytic reduction system at Alliant Energy's Columbia Energy Center Unit 2.
- Under terms of a settlement, Alliant subsidiary Wisconsin Power and Light will also close a smaller plant in the southwestern portion of the state.
Dive Insight:
Customers of Wisconsin Power and Light, Wisconsin Public Service Corp., and Madison Gas and Electric Co., will foot a $150 million bill for pollution controls installed at a coal-fired facility near Portage, Wisc., owned by Alliant. Terms of an agreement with the Sierra Club and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also call for WPL to shutter a smaller plant and cut back coal consumption at a facility Sheboygan, Wisc.
In an application filed last year, the utilities said the pollution controls were needed "to ensure long-term emission compliance for the Columbia Unit 2, and help to ensure ... customers continue to benefit from this cost-effective and reliable generating facility."
The utilities jointly own this generating unit, with WPL operating the facility and holding a 46.2% share. WPS holds a 31.8% share, and MGE owns the remaining 22%.
