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May 14, 2008
Contact:
Katie Nekola, Energy Program Director
608.251.7020 ext. 14 (office), 608.212.8751 (cell)
Public Service Commission: Alliant's Proposed Coal Plant "Is Not the Optimal Choice"
Released Draft of Environmental Impact Statement Cites Environmental and Economic Concerns
Madison, Wisconsin – Alliant's proposed Cassville coal-fired power
plant "is not the optimal generation choice" and "is not the least cost
option under any scenario," according to a draft environmental impact statement
released by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin today.
"This document affirms that Alliant's proposed Cassville coal plant threatens
both Wisconsin's environment and Wisconsin's economy," said Katie Nekola,
Energy Program Director at Clean Wisconsin, the state's largest environmental
advocacy organization. "The proposed plant will pollute our air and water,
contribute to global warming, and increase electricity bills for Wisconsin
energy users."
The statement, one of the key documents the Public Service Commission will
use in determining whether to permit the coal-fired power plant, further
states that "the likelihood of a carbon tax decreases the attractiveness
of coal."
"Global warming regulation will drastically increase the price of burning
coal," said Nekola. "When this occurs, Wisconsin's energy users will have
to foot the bill for Alliant's pollution."
Beyond commenting on the economic dangers of the proposed plant, the statement
further warns of the environmental concerns regarding the inefficiency
of the plant. The Public Service Commission found that "more efficient
coal units with the ability to burn biomass reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
"Alliant's proposed plant will emit the same amount of global warming pollution
as 40-year-old Wisconsin coal plants," Nekola said. "This proposal flies
in the face of all of the hard work of Governor Doyle and the Global Warming
Task Force he created."
The Public Service Commission's release of the statement falls two days
after Governor Doyle signed a memorandum of understanding with Great Britain
encouraging collaboration in the shared interest of reducing greenhouse
gas emissions, and one day before a planned protest of the proposed plant
at Alliant Energy's annual shareholder meeting.
"It's clear that Alliant's proposed coal plant is too dangerous for Wisconsin's
environment and its economy," Nekola said. "The cost of coal is simply
too high."
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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 corporations 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: info@cleanwisconsin.org, Website: www.cleanwisconsin.org.