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Alliant’s Cassville plant: A bad investment for Wisconsin

By: Mark Redsten

Higher electricity bills, increased global warming pollution, and more mercury polluting our lakes, rivers and streams - these are all things Wisconsinites can expect if Alliant is allowed to construct their proposed 1.2 billion dollar coal-fired power plant in Cassville.

Alliant needs to keep the lights on for Wisconsin residents, but they don’t need another dirty coal plant to do it. In making the case for its coal plant, Alliant assumes a 2-3% increase in Wisconsin’s energy use; however, the Public Service Commission, the state’s regulatory body in charge of permitting such plants, predicts only a 1.65% increase in electricity use.

Investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy production, like wind and solar power, can ensure this small electricity increase is met without compromising our economy or our environment by building another coal plant.

In addition, investment in renewable energy would foster a new energy economy and create long-term, high-paying jobs for Wisconsinites in manufacturing, construction and research. Unlike investment in renewable energy, coal plant construction projects employ short-term, out-of-state workers and do little to bolster Wisconsin’s economy long-term.

Alliant claims they will increase investment in wind energy production and energy efficiency programs only if the Public Service Commission approves their coal plant proposal. Making such investments contingent upon the approval of another coal plant is inconsistent with Governor Doyle’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing a clean energy economy.

Wisconsin’s residents and leaders are working hard to reduce global warming pollution, but the construction of this plant would eliminate much of the progress being made. If built, this plant would emit nearly three million tons of global warming pollution into the atmosphere annually - that’s the equivalent of adding 635,000 cars to Wisconsin roads this year.

Alliant’s attempt to market this coal plant as an eco-friendly “flex-fuel” plant is little more than a charade. Alliant has secured coal to burn in the power plant but their own experts admit they have yet to find a source for biomass - fuels like corn stalks and wood waste.

Even if the plant burns 20% biomass, it will still emit as much global warming pollution as existing Wisconsin power plants fueled exclusively by coal.

Biomass should play a major role in Wisconsin’s energy production, but tossing biomass into an inefficient coal plant is a waste of a valuable resource.

As Alliant pushes for its coal plant, states across the country scrap plans to build coal-fired power plants. The need to address global warming, the skyrocketing price of constructing power plants, and the increasing price of coal all make investment in coal plants too risky for states like Minnesota, Kansas, Georgia, Wyoming, Montana and Texas.

It’s easy to see why other states are rejecting new coal plants. Beyond increasing global warming pollution, Alliant’s proposed coal plant would cost Wisconsin energy users over 1.2 billion dollars to construct, translating into a 5-6% increase in their customer’s electricity bills every year, according to Alliant’s own analysis.

And these estimates might be low. Experts agree that the need to reduce global warming pollution will likely drive the price of coal-fueled electricity even higher.

When building a coal plant results in higher electricity bills, fewer jobs, and increased global warming pollution, it’s clear why states across the country are scrapping plans to build them. Wisconsin should join other states and take the first steps to develop a strong clean energy economy by rejecting Alliant’s proposal to build another dirty coal plant.

Clean Wisconsin, an environmental advocacy organization, protects Wisconsin’s clean water and air and advocates for clean energy by being an effective voice in the state legislature and by holding elected officials and polluters accountable. Founded in 1970 as Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade, Clean Wisconsin exposes corporate polluters, makes sure existing environmental laws are enforced, and educates citizens and businesses. On behalf of its 10,000 members and its coalition partners, Clean Wisconsin protects the special places that make Wisconsin such a wonderful place to live, work and play. Phone: 608-251-7020, Fax: 608-251-1655, Email: information@cleanwisconsin.org, Website: www.cleanwisconsin.org.