Energy Updates

ERGS Offshore Cooling Water Intake Structure PermitClean Wisconsin and SC Johnson filed a lawsuit in Dane County Circuit Court, challenging the DNR's permit for the controversial once-through cooling system.

The permit challenge is based on the DNR's erroneous classification of this new water intake structure as an "existing facility," which would allow much more relaxed standards for its regulation. In fact, the stand-alone facility would be built as part of the expansion of the Oak Creek power plant and would be entirely new. Because this new system does not use the best technology available, but instead uses a process that has been banned in other states for thirty years and is far more environmentally harmful than alternatives, it would not meet permitting standards for a new facility. The nearly two-mile long pipeline extending out into Lake Michigan would take in 2.2 billion gallons of water a day, and discharge water that is fifteen degrees warmer than lake water. The water intake would also kill billions of aquatic organisms.

A permit appeal was also filed at the DNR, requesting a contested case hearing on the legality of the permit.

ERGS Air Permit Appeal
Clean Wisconsin and SC Johnson also filed a lawsuit in circuit court, challenging the air permit for the plant. Based on the DNR's failure to consider health issues or other alternatives that would reduce pollution, scheduling for this case will begin early in July.

Arrowhead-Weston Transmission Line
Clean Wisconsin and SOUL are challenging the wetlands permit for this project.