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{{#badges: CoalSwarm}}==Introduction==Wisconsin had 70 coal-fired generating stations in 2005, with 7,123 MW of capacity - representing 42.5% of the state's total electric generation capacity.<ref name="EIA">[http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epat2p2.html Existing Electric Generating Units in the United States, 2005], Energy Information Administration, accessed April 2008.</ref> In 2006, Wisconsin's coal-fired power plants produced 43.7 million tons of CO<sub>2</sub>, 185,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 65,000 tons of nitrogen oxide; coal-fired power plants were responsible for 41.7% of the state's total CO<sub>2</sub> emissions.<ref>[http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/SEP_MoreEnviron.cfm Estimated Emissions for U.S. Electric Power Industry by State, 1990-2006], Energy Information Administration, 2007.</ref> In 2005, Wisconsin emitted 18.9 tons of CO<sub>2</sub> per person; the state had the 29th highest per capita level of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions.<ref>[http://www.eredux.com/states/state_detail.php?id=1128&state=WISCONSIN Wisconsin Energy Consumption Information], eRedux website, accessed June 2008.</ref> No coal was mined in Wisconsin in 2006.<ref>[http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/coal/page/acr/table2.html Coal Production and Number of Mines by State, County, and Mine Type], Energy Information Administration, accessed June 2008.</ref> Thus, the state relies on coal imports from Wyoming, Appalachia, and southern Illinois; the state imported 27 million tons of coal in 2005.<ref>[http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=564173 "Our Insatiable Appetite for Coal"], Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Feb. 10, 2007.</ref> ==History== ==Citizen activism====DNR issues Air Quality Watch for entire state of Wisconsin==On February 9, 2009, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued an Air Quality Watch for Particle Pollution for the entire state. The watch was issued based on a forecast for elevated levels of fine particles in the air. Fine particle pollution, which is comprised of microscopic dust, soot, liquid droplets and smoke particles smaller than 2.5 microns, originate mainly from combustion sources, such as power plants, factories, vehicle exhaust, and wood burning. The Air Quality Index was expected to reach the orange level, which is considered unhealthy for people with heart or lung diseases, older adults, and children. The DNR advised people in these groups reschedule or cut back on strenuous activities during the watch period.<ref>[http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20090208/FON0101/90208015/1289/FON01 "Air quality watch issued for Wisconsin,"] ''The Reporter,'' February 8, 2009.</ref> ==Governor Doyle announces coal phase-out at UW==In February 2009, Governor Jim Doyle announced that the University of Wisconsin's [[Charter Street Heating Plant]] will phase out coal. Gov. Doyle said that a biomass boiler will be installed by 2012 in an effort to generate 25 percent of the state's energy from renewable resources by the year 2025. The over $200 million investment will eliminate the burning of over 100 tons of coal.<ref>[http://badgerherald.com/news/2009/02/08/doyle_no_coal_at_uw_.php "Doyle: No coal at UW by 2012,"] ''Badger Herald'', February 8, 2009.</ref> ==Explosion at We Energy's Oak Creek power plant==On February 4, 2009, six people were injured during an explosion and fire at the Oak Creek power plant owned by [[Wisconsin Energy]] (WE). The explosion occurred at a plant silo used Moved to collect dust after coal is dumped into the hopper. All of the people hurt were contractors working in the hopper at the time. The most severely burned patient suffered second- and third-degree burns on his hands, face and back.<ref name="msn">[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29002367/ "6 Hurt in Explosion at Oak Creek We Energies Plant,"] MSNBC, February 4, 2009.</ref> The company is currently building [[Oak Creek Units 1 & 2|two new units]] of 615 MW in at the plant,<ref>[[Oak Creek Units 1 & 2]]</ref> but said the area where the explosion occurred was not part of the new construction on the facility.<ref name="msn"/> ==Governor Doyle retires two coal plants==In August, 2008, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced that two aging coal plants, the [[Charter Street Heating Plant]] and the [[Capitol Heat and Power Plant]], both located in Dane County, will be shut down and replaced with cleaner systems. The decision followed legal action and grassroots protests and lobbying by members of the Sierra Club, students at the University of Wisconsin, and other activists. August 2008<ref>[http://www.sierraclub.org/environmentallaw/coal/plantlist.asp "Stopping the Coal Rush"], Sierra Club, accessed December 2007. (This is a Sierra Club list of new coal plant proposals.)</ref> ==Legislative issues== ==Proposed coal plants=====Active===*[[Oak Creek Units 1 & 2]], Oak Creek, WI*[[Weston Unit 4]], Wausau, WI ===Cancelled===*[[E.J. Stoneman Expansion]], Cassville, WI*[[Nelson Dewey Generating Facility]], Cassville, WI ==Coal lobbying groups== ==Coal power companies==*[[Alliant Energy]]**Headquarters in Madison, WI**Owner of [[Wisconsin Power & Light Company]]**21st biggest coal energy producer in U.S.**Controls 30 coal-fired generating stations with 4055 MW total capacity**Active proposals: [[Nelson Dewey Generating Facility]], [[Sutherland Generating Station Unit 4]]*[[We Energies]]**Headquarters in Milwaukee, WI**Owner of [[Wisconsin Electric Power Company]]**28th biggest coal energy producer in U.S.**Controls 19 coal-fired generating stations with 3339 MW total capacity**Active proposals: [[Oak Creek Units 1 & 2]]*[[Dairyland Power Cooperative]]**Headquarters in La Crosse, WI**Controls 7 coal-fired generating stations with 914 MW total capacity*[[Wisconsin Public Service]], owned by [[Integrys]]*Ft. James Operating Co., owned by [[Koch Industries]]*[[Madison Gas & Electric]] ==Existing coal plants==Wisconsin had 70 coal-fired power units at 27 locations in 2005, with 7,123 megawatts (MW) of capacity. The following map shows the locations: <googlemap version="0.9" lat="43" lon="-89" type="map" zoom="6">44.3022, -91.9142, Alma StationClick '''[[Alma Station|here]]''' for more information.46.58683, -90.901367, Bay Front StationClick '''[[Bay Front Station|here]]''' for more information.44.430025, -89.780535, Biron Mill Power PlantClick '''[[Biron Mill Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.43.079155, -89.375273, Blount Street StationClick '''[[Blount Street Station|here]]''' for more information.43.078394, -89.377251, Capitol Heat and Power PlantClick '''[[Capitol Heat and Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.43.070295, -89.404909, Charter Street Heating PlantClick '''[[Charter Street Heating Plant|here]]''' for more information.43.4864, -89.4203, Columbia Energy CenterClick '''[[Columbia Energy Center|here]]''' for more information.43.715853, -87.710084, Edgewater Generating StationClick '''[[Edgewater Generating Station|here]]''' for more information.45.9353, -90.44626, Fraser Paper Power PlantClick '''[[Fraser Paper Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.43.5592, -91.2333, Genoa StationClick '''[[Genoa Station|here]]''' for more information.44.3022, -91.9142, John Madgett StationClick '''[[John Madgett Station|here]]''' for more information.44.282411, -88.254094, Kaukauna Cogeneration PlantClick '''[[Kaukauna Cogeneration Plant|here]]''' for more information.44.080959, -87.656081, Manitowoc Power PlantClick '''[[Manitowoc Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.44.199988, -88.458279, Menasha Power PlantClick '''[[Menasha Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.43.046522, -88.027166, Milwaukee County Power PlantClick '''[[Milwaukee County Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.42.7247, -91.0058, Nelson Dewey Generating StationClick '''[[Nelson Dewey Generating Station|here]]''' for more information.45.446361, -89.737044, PCA Tomahawk Power PlantClick '''[[PCA Tomahawk Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.42.5401, -87.90363, Pleasant Prairie Power PlantClick '''[[Pleasant Prairie Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.44.541511, -88.012354, Pulliam Power PlantClick '''[[Pulliam Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.42.844283, -87.830348, South Oak Creek PlantClick '''[[South Oak Creek Plant|here]]''' for more information.42.7079, -90.9843, Stoneman Generating StationClick '''[[Stoneman Generating Station|here]]''' for more information.45.773415, -87.989799, Stora Enso Niagara Mill Power PlantClick '''[[Stora Enso Niagara Mill Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.44.490023, -89.574463, Stora Enso Whiting Mill Power PlantClick '''[[Stora Enso Whiting Mill Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.43.03138, -87.924247, Valley Power PlantClick '''[[Valley Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.43.62715, -88.73404, Waupun Correction Central Heating PlantClick '''[[Waupun Correction Central Heating Plant|here]]''' for more information.45.639279, -89.421003, Wausau Rhinelander Power PlantClick '''[[Wausau Rhinelander Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.44.8606, -89.6553, Weston Power PlantClick '''[[Weston Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.</googlemap> Here is a list of coal power plants in Wisconsin with capacity over 400 MW:<ref name="EIA"/><ref>Environmental Integrity Project, [http://www.dirtykilowatts.org/Dirty_Kilowatts2007.pdf "Dirty Kilowatts: America’s Most Polluting Power Plants"], July 2007.</ref>{| class="wikitable"! Plant Name !! County !! Owner !! Year(s) Built !! Capacity !! width="100" | 2006 SO<sub>2</sub> Emissions !! width="50" | SO<sub>2</sub>/MW Rank|-! align="left" | [[Pleasant Prairie Power Plant|Pleasant Prairie]]| align="center" | Kenosha || align="center" | [[Wisconsin Energy]] || align="center" | 1980, 1985 || align="right" | 1233 MW || align="right" | 28,566 tons || align="right" | 120|-! align="left" | [[South Oak Creek Plant|South Oak Creek]]| align="center" | Milwaukee || align="center" | [[Wisconsin Energy]] || align="center" | 1959-67 || align="right" | 1192 MW || align="right" | 13,594 tons || align="right" | 198|-! align="left" | [[Columbia Energy Center|Columbia]]| align="center" | Columbia || align="center" | [[Alliant Energy]] || align="center" | 1975, 1978 || align="right" | 1023 MW || align="right" | 22,396 tons || align="right" | 145|-! align="left" | [[Edgewater Generating Station|Edgewater]]| align="center" | Sheboygan || align="center" | [[Alliant Energy]] || align="center" | 1951, 1969, 1985 || align="right" | 770 MW || align="right" | 15,759 tons || align="right" | 128|-! align="left" | [[Weston Power Plant|Weston]]| align="center" | Marathon || align="center" | [[Integrys]] || align="center" | 1954-60, 1981 || align="right" | 492 MW || align="right" | 12,596 tons || align="right" | 127|-! align="left" | [[Pulliam Power Plant|Pulliam]]| align="center" | Brown || align="center" | [[Integrys]] || align="center" | 1943-64 || align="right" | 410 MW || align="right" | 10,869 tons || align="right" | 100|GEM}These six plants represent 71.9% of Wisconsin's coal energy generating capacity. ==Major coal mines==There are currently no coal mines in Wisconsin. ==Citizen groups==*[http://www.cleanwisconsin.org/ Clean Wisconsin]*[http://wisconsin.sierraclub.org/ Sierra Club John Muir Chapter]*[http://www.wiscub.org/ Wisconsin Citizens Utility Board] ==Business groups==* [[Wisconsin Climate Change Action Initiative]] ==Resources=====References===<references/> ===Related SourceWatch articles===*[[William D. Harvey]]*[[Existing U.S. Coal Plants]]*[[:category:Proposed coal plants in the United States|US proposed coal plants (both active and cancelled)]]*[[Coal plants cancelled in 2007]] *[[Coal plants cancelled in 2008]] * [[State-by-State Guide to Information on Coal in the United States|Profiles of other states]] (or click on the map)<us_map redirect="{state} and coal"></us_map> ===External links===* Todd Richmond, [http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/11/ap5679709.html Wisconsin regulators say no to new power plant], Associated Press, November 11, 2008. "State regulators Tuesday unanimously rejected a plan to build a new coal-fired power plant in southwestern Wisconsin, calling it too expensive. [[Alliant Energy]] subsidiary [[Wisconsin Power & Light]] wanted to build the plant in Cassville, a town of about 1,100 people on the Mississippi River in Grant County." [[Category:U.S. state coal profiles]][[Category:Wisconsin]]
