Jul 16 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Chris Hubbuch La Crosse Tribune, Wis.


Dairyland Power is looking for power in coal ash.

The La Crosse-based utility believes it can capture additional energy from ash in a landfill near Cassville, Wis., and plans to mix the ash with coal at its Genoa plant this fall, pending state approval.

The process would use fly ash from coal burned at an old plant, mixed with virgin coal. Dairyland officials estimate the ash retains about a quarter of its original carbon content.

Reburning the ash would extract that remaining energy while turning the powdery ash into a form that can be recycled, said Charles Sans Crainte, Dairyland's vice president of generation.

Pending approval, testing likely would begin in September. If effective, the power cooperative would seek approval to burn all the ash stored at its former E.J. Stoneman plant and close the landfill.

Officials estimate it would take about a year to use the estimated 25,000 tons of ash stored there.

DTE Energy, which recently purchased the Stoneman plant and is converting it to run on wood waste, would like to use the landfill site to store fuel, Dairyland officials said.

Dairyland has contracted to purchase power from DTE once the plant comes online.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources air management bureau has determined the project meets criteria for a permit exemption and won't present a significant hazard to public health and safety.

"They're burning coal just like they're burning coal," said Don Faith, a DNR air management engineer. "The same concerns are there."

The DNR will accept comments through Monday on the request for an exemption to Dairyland's air pollution control permit. Citizens can request a public hearing.

Dairyland also is considering burning coal ash from its Alma plant -- built in the 1940s and '50s -- at the adjacent and more efficient John P. Madgett Station, Sans Crainte said.

Reburning coal ash isn't a new concept. We Energies has been using the process for the past decade at its plants in Kenosha, Wis.

"It's not common, but it's been done," Sans Crainte said.

According to We Energies, burning coal ash benefits the environment by reducing the need for landfill space, conserving coal and producing ash that can replace cement in concrete.

Care to comment?

The Wisconsin DNR is accepting public comments on the Dairyland project through Monday.

Plans and the DNR's analysis of the proposal are available at the La Crosse Area Office, 3550 Mormon Coulee Road, Room 104, or online at www.dnr.wi.gov/air/ permits.

Written comments should be directed to Don Faith, Bureau of Air Management, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 101 S. Webster St. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707.

(c) 2009, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services