Aug. 8

The owners of a Wisconsin power plant embroiled in a three-year legal battle over its water intake structure will invest in renewable energy projects and other environmental programs as part of a settlement.

Clean Wisconsin and the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit challenging the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources permit allowing the Elm Road Generating Station in Oak Creek, Wis., to use a once-through cooling system at the coal-fired plant.

They withdrew their challenge in exchange for several concessions from the plant´s owners ù We Energies, Madison Gas and Electric Co. and Wisconsin Public Power Inc. The companies will provide funding of $4 million per year from 2010 to 2035 on projects to address water quality issues in Lake Michigan. They also will buy or build 15 megawatts of solar power generation by Jan. 1, 2015 and will support legislative efforts in the state to establish a renewable energy portfolio standard of 10 percent by 2013 and 25 percent by 2025.

We Energies agreed to retire two coal-fired units in Presque Isle, Mich. and seek approval to build 50-megawatts of 100-percent biomass power in Wisconsin.

Contact Waste News reporter Joe Truini at (330) 865-6166 or jtruini@crain.com

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