Apr. 26--Wisconsin Power & Light says it still plans to build its first wind farm in Wisconsin, but it may not do so under the terms first proposed to the state Public Service Commission.

WPL wants to build the Cedar Ridge Wind Farm in Fond du Lac County. That's a 40-turbine project with an estimated cost of $180 million that could generate up to 99 megawatts of electricity. The Madison utility company proposed the project under terms of Act 7, a state statute that allows fixed financial parameters for individual generation projects, so that the payback holds steady throughout their lifetime. But Bill Harvey, chairman, president and chief executive of Alliant Energy Corp., WPL's parent company, said he is "disappointed" in the 10.5 percent return on common equity approved by the PSC in an oral decision on Tuesday.

"We believe that the decision . . . is contrary to the intention of Wisconsin Act 7 to encourage investment in new generation, including renewable energy," Harvey said. WPL had requested a 12.9 percent rate of return on equity for the wind project, spokeswoman Erin Dammen said. A written decision from the PSC is expected within the next few weeks. Dammen said the utility company will go ahead with plans for Cedar Ridge but may decide to include the project as part of WPL's traditional rate base. The PSC is expected to issue a decision in May on WPL's application to build the wind farm. MGE to buy wind energy Madison Gas & Electric will buy 30 megawatts of wind power fromNorthern Iowa Windpower II to add to its Green Pricing Program.

The electricity will be generated at wind turbines north of Mason City, Iowa, near a site where MGE is seeking approval to build its own wind turbines.