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==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 to be in the public interest.'” There is speculation that Koch Industries would be sold the plants.<ref name=pk/>
==Legislative issues==
