WPPI to expand, remodel HQ with efficiency focus

From an article by Jeff Richgels in The Capital Times:

Wisconsin Public Power Inc. announced that it will spend $6.9 million to expand and remodel its Sun Prairie headquarters in a project that will achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) New Construction (NC) "Gold" standards for energy efficiency and sustainability.

WPPI's board of directors unanimously approved the WPPI operations and office facility building plan at its May meeting, with groundbreaking for the project set for September and completion in September 2009.

"WPPI has experienced significant growth in the past several years, and our current facility is not meeting our demand for additional space," Tom Paque, WPPI vice president of customer services and administration, said in a statement.

WPPI's existing headquarters was built in 1990, when the nonprofit power supplier had 17 employees and served 30 member municipal utilities. It now has 83 employees and serves 49 community-owned utilities. Space requirements for the expansion are based on a 20-year projection, the company said in a news release.

"As part of WPPI's efforts to lead by example in the areas of energy conservation, efficiency and the use of renewables, our new office and operations facility will meet high standards for energy efficiency and sustainability," WPPI President and CEO Roy Thilly said in a statement. "Through the use of sustainable design, we will create an environmentally friendly facility and an excellent work environment for our employees."