Power plant proposal wins coalition backing

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Madison - A coalition of union, farm and environmental groups threw their support behind Alliant Energy Corp.'s proposed coal-fired power plant during a rally Wednesday.

Building the power plant on the Mississippi River in Cassville would generate hundreds of construction jobs and up to 40 full-time jobs at a time when the state’s unemployment rate is climbing, union leaders said.

“Haven’t we seen enough unemployment? Support biofuels, new jobs and a better economy,” said Phil Neuenfeldt of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO. Nearly 200 people attended the rally, and the speakers were flanked by large tractor-trailers loaded with bales of switchgrass that could be burned in the new power plant.

“Wisconsin’s farmers are working to produce the next generation of biofuels, grown right here in Wisconsin, Alliant’s proposal keeps our money right here in our communities,” said Matt Krumenauer, director of government relations at the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives.

Alliant has proposed that up to 20% of the coal plant’s power be generated from wood and non-food crops such as switchgrass and corn stalks.

The rally came as a response to opposition to the plant voiced by environmental and customer groups, as well as criticism of the proposal from the staff of the state Public Service Commission.

The groups are raising questions about the escalating cost of the plant as well as concerns about Wisconsin adding another coal plant to its power supply mix at a time of increasing concern about global warming.

The rally came one day after Alliant disclosed to securities regulators that the cost of the project has escalated again. The plant is now projected to cost $1.2 billion to $1.3 billion.