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{{#badges: Climate change |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=====Public opposition to [[Valley Power Plant]]'s air pollution=====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.{{#evp:youtube|2dkJWUOS3LI|Thomas White, President of the NAACP of Wisconsin on air pollution in Milwaukee, WI. Part One.|right|200}}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=={{#evp:youtube|bpSpeFZdK1s|Thomas White, President of the NAACP of Wisconsin on air pollution in Milwaukee, WI. Part Two.|right|200}}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 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> ==Oak Creek permit settlement uncertain==Environmental groups refused to revise a deal to settle litigation over [[Oak Creek Units 1 & 2]] to address concerns raised by state regulators. The proposed settlement would see the [[Sierra Club]] and [[Clean Wisconsin]] drop their challenge to environmental permits issued for the project, in exchange for a WE commitment to fund environmental projects in Lake Michigan and expand renewable energy projects in the state. Under the agreement, We Energies, Madison Gas & Electric Co., and WPPI Energy would spend $4 million per year for 25 years on projects to improve water quality in Lake Michigan. An additional $5 million would be allocated to create a nonprofit group focused on efforts to reduce global warming emissions. PSC regulators are hesitant to raise customer rates to fund the Lake Michigan projects, which could prompt the environmental groups to revive their lawsuits. If the groups win, the cost of litigation could add more than $1 billion to the cost of the power plant, as opposed to the $100 million cost of the settlement.<ref>[http://www.jsonline.com/business/76092592.html "Oak Creek coal plant settlement uncertain,"] ''Journal Sentinel,'' November 27, 2009.</ref> ==Koch Industries, Scott Walker, and the state's power plants==In Feb. 2011, Wisconsin Gov. [[Scott Walker]] introduced a governor’s budget bill that would deny collective-bargaining rights to public-sector workers, and included language that would allow for the selling off of state-owned power plants, as well as allow officials appointed by the governor to make sweeping cuts in health coverage for low-income families without having to go through the normal legislative process.<ref name=pk>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/opinion/25krugman.html "Shock Doctrine, U.S.A."] NY Times, Feb. 24, 2011.</ref> Among those supporting the bill were [[Americans for Prosperity]], with state records showing that [[Koch Industries]], whose energy and consumer products conglomerate is based in Wichita, Kansas, was one of the biggest contributors to the election campaign of Walker. Koch owns a coal company subsidiary with facilities throughout Wisconsin, including in Green Bay, Manitowoc, Ashland and Sheboygan.<ref>Eric Lipton, [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/us/22koch.html "Billionaire Brothers’ Money Plays Role in Wisconsin Dispute"] NY Times, Feb. 21, 2011.</ref> The bill included a Governor's request for sole power to sell off Wisconsin state owned power plants: “the department may sell any state-owned heating, cooling, and power plant or may contract with a private entity for the operation of any such plant, with or without solicitation of bids, for any amount that the department determines to be in the best interest of the state. Notwithstanding ss. 196.49 and 196.80, no approval or certification of the public service commission is necessary for a public utility to purchase, or contract for the operation of, such a plant, and any such purchase is considered to be in the public interest and to comply with the criteria for certification of a project under s. 196.49 (3) (b).” (Budget Repair Bill, Section 44, 16.896).<ref name=pk/> According to N.Y. Times columnist [[Paul Krugman]]: "The state of Wisconsin owns a number of plants supplying heating, cooling, and electricity to state-run facilities (like the [[University of Wisconsin]]). The language in the budget bill would, in effect, let the governor privatize any or all of these facilities at whim. Not only that, he could sell them, without taking bids, to anyone he chooses. And note that any such sale would, by definition, be 'considered Moved to be in the public interest.'” There is speculation that Koch Industries would be sold the plants.<ref name=pk/> ==Legislative issues== ==Proposed coal plants== ===Cancelled===*[[E.J. Stoneman Expansion]], Cassville, WI*[[Nelson Dewey Generating Facility]], Cassville, WI ===Operating===*[[Oak Creek Units 1 & 2]], Oak Creek, WI*[[Weston Unit 4]], Wausau, 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. Click on the locations shown on the Wisconsin map for plant details: {{#display_points:|center=44.5,-89|44.3022, -91.9142~Alma Station~Click '''[[Alma Station|here]]''' for more information.;46.58683, -90.901367~Bay Front Station~Click '''[[Bay Front Station|here]]''' for more information.;44.430025, -89.780535~Biron Mill Power Plant~Click '''[[Biron Mill Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.;43.079155, -89.375273~Blount Street Station~Click '''[[Blount Street Station|here]]''' for more information.;43.078394, -89.377251~Capitol Heat and Power Plant~Click '''[[Capitol Heat and Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.;43.070295, -89.404909~Charter Street Heating Plant~Click '''[[Charter Street Heating Plant|here]]''' for more information.;43.4864, -89.4203~Columbia Energy Center~Click '''[[Columbia Energy Center|here]]''' for more information.;43.715853, -87.710084~Edgewater Generating Station~Click '''[[Edgewater Generating Station|here]]''' for more information.;45.9353, -90.44626~Fraser Paper Power Plant~Click '''[[Fraser Paper Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.;43.5592, -91.2333~Genoa Station~Click '''[[Genoa Station|here]]''' for more information.;44.3022, -91.9142~John Madgett Station~Click '''[[John Madgett Station|here]]''' for more information.;44.282411, -88.254094~Kaukauna Cogeneration Plant~Click '''[[Kaukauna Cogeneration Plant|here]]''' for more information.;44.080959, -87.656081~Manitowoc Power Plant~Click '''[[Manitowoc Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.;44.199988, -88.458279~Menasha Power Plant~Click '''[[Menasha Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.;43.046522, -88.027166~Milwaukee County Power Plant~Click '''[[Milwaukee County Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.;42.7247, -91.0058~Nelson Dewey Generating Station~Click '''[[Nelson Dewey Generating Station|here]]''' for more information.;45.446361, -89.737044~PCA Tomahawk Power Plant~Click '''[[PCA Tomahawk Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.;42.5401, -87.90363~Pleasant Prairie Power Plant~Click '''[[Pleasant Prairie Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.;44.541511, -88.012354~Pulliam Power Plant~Click '''[[Pulliam Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.;42.844283, -87.830348~South Oak Creek Plant~Click '''[[South Oak Creek Plant|here]]''' for more information.;42.7079, -90.9843~Stoneman Generating Station~Click '''[[Stoneman Generating Station|here]]''' for more information.;45.773415, -87.989799~Stora Enso Niagara Mill Power Plant~Click '''[[Stora Enso Niagara Mill Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.;44.490023, -89.574463~Stora Enso Whiting Mill Power Plant~Click '''[[Stora Enso Whiting Mill Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.;43.03138, -87.924247~Valley Power Plant~Click '''[[Valley Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.;43.62715, -88.73404~Waupun Correction Central Heating Plant~Click '''[[Waupun Correction Central Heating Plant|here]]''' for more information.;45.639279, -89.421003~Wausau Rhinelander Power Plant~Click '''[[Wausau Rhinelander Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.;44.8606, -89.6553~Weston Power Plant~Click '''[[Weston Power Plant|here]]''' for more information.;}GEM} 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|-! align="left" | [[Oak Creek Units 1 & 2|Oak Creek]]| align="center" | Brown || align="center" | [[Wisconsin Energy]] || align="center" | 2010, 2011 || align="right" | 1230 MW || align="right" | || align="right" | 100|}These six plants represent 71.9% of Wisconsin's coal energy generating capacity. ==Coal Ash Waste and Water Contamination==In August 2010 a study released by the [[Environmental Integrity Project]], the [[Sierra Club]] and [[Earthjustice]] reported that Wisconsin, along with 34 states, had significant groundwater contamination from coal ash that was not regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The report, in an attempt to pressure the EPA to regulate coal ash, noted that most states do not monitor drinking water contamination levels near waste disposal sites.<ref>[http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/26/1793995/study-of-coal-ash-sites-finds.html "Study of coal ash sites finds extensive water contamination"] Renee Schoff, ''Miami Herald'', August 26, 2010.</ref> The report mentioned Wisconsin's [[Columbia Energy Center]] and [[Oak Creek Power Plant]] as two sites that have groundwater contamination due to coal ash waste.<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9HRDN581.htm "Enviro groups: ND, SD coal ash polluting water"] Associated Press, August 24, 2010.</ref> ==Study finds dangerous level of hexavalent chromium at Wisconsin coal waste site==The study [http://earthjustice.org/sites/default/files/CoalAshChromeReport.pdf "EPA’s Blind Spot: Hexavalent Chromium in Coal Ash,"] released by EarthJustice and the Sierra Club in early February 2011, reported that the level of hexavalent [[Chromium|chromium]], a highly potent cancer-causing chemical, at a [[Coal ash|coal ash]] site associated with the Asheville Plant was 83 parts per billion.<ref name="blind spot">[http://earthjustice.org/sites/default/files/CoalAshChromeReport.pdf "EPA’s Blind Spot: Hexavalent Chromium in Coal Ash"] Earthjustice & Sierra Club, February 1, 2011.</ref> That level is 4,150 times as high as California's drinking water goal, and 66% above North Carolina's groundwater standard. In all, the study cited 29 sites in 17 states where hexavalent chromium contamination was found. The information was gathered from existing EPA data on coal ash as well as from studies by EarthJustice, the Environmental Integrity Project, and the Sierra Club.<ref>"Damage Case Report for Coal Compustion Wastes," August 2008</ref><ref>U.S. EPA Proposed Coal Ash Rule, 75 Fed. Reg. 35128</ref><ref>EarthJustice, Environmental Integrity Project, and Sierra Club, "In Harm's Way: Lack of Federal Coal Ash Regulations Endangers Americans and their Environment," August 2010</ref><ref>EarthJustice and Environmental Integrity Project, "Out of Control: Mounting Damages from Coal Ash Waste Sites," May 2010</ref> It included locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Massachusetts, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virgina and Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, the Lemberber Landfill coal waste site and [[Dairyland Power Cooperative]]'s [[Stoneman Generating Station]]'s ash disposal pond was reported as having high levels of hexavalent chromium.<ref name="blind spot"/> According to the report, the electric power industry is the leading source of chromium and chromium compounds released into the environment, representing 24 percent of releases by all industries in 2009.<Ref name="blind spot"/> A press release about the report read: ::Hexavalent chromium first made headlines after Erin Brockovich sued Pacific Gas & Electric because of poisoned drinking water from hexavalent chromium. Now new information indicates that the chemical has readily leaked from coal ash sites across the U.S. This is likely the tip of the iceberg because most coal ash dump sites are not adequately monitored.<ref>[http://www.examiner.com/green-culture-in-mankato/coal-ash-waste-tied-to-cancer-causing-chemicals-water-supplies "Coal ash waste tied to cancer-causing chemicals in water supplies"] Alicia Bayer, Examiner.com, February 1, 2011.</ref> ==Wisconsin May Shut Down Five Coal Plants== In 2007 the Sierra Club challenged the State of Wisconsin over pollution emissions from five of its state-run coal plants used to provide heat and power to four state-run university buildings and one hospital. The plants include those that function at UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh, UW-River Falls and Mendota Mental Health Institute. The State's Department of Natural Resources sided with the Sierra Club, and now the state of Wisconsin has to decide on whether or not to install pollution-control equipment to greatly reduce emissions, or reduce the use of coal all together. As decision is to be made by spring 2010.<ref>[http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/02/wisconsin-may-shut-down-five-coal-plants.php "Dpt. of Good Ideas: Wisconsin May Shut Down Five Coal Plants,"] Treehugger.com, February 22, 2010.</ref> The Sierra Club alleged that the millions of dollars in upgrades made at these facilities were significant and actually increased the potential for the plants to emit more pollution.<ref>[http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt_and_politics/article_92bd1030-1dcb-11df-9a92-001cc4c002e0.html "State may shut down five coal-fired power plants,"] Dee J Hall, ''Wisconsin State Journal'', February 19, 2010.</ref> ==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]*[[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]] (NAACP) ==Business groups==* [[Wisconsin Climate Change Action Initiative]] ==Resources=====References===<references/> ===Related SourceWatch articles===*[[William D. Harvey]]*[[EPA Coal Plant Settlements]]*[[Existing U.S. Coal Mines]]*[[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]]
