Wis. utility to spend $430M to reduce emissions

Money going to cut pollution from coal-fired plants

Alliant Energy says it will spend up to $430 million to reduce emissions at its coal-fired plant in Sheboygan.

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — The utility said Friday it would install a system to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide from the largest of its three coal-fired generators.

A Sheboygan Press report said the project must first be approved by the state Public Service Commission.

Alliant officials also plan to retire the oldest of the Edgewater Generating Station’s three coal generators by 2015. They’ll also decide by next year whether to switch the other to natural gas or to shut it down.

The utility does business in the state as Wisconsin Power and Light. It has been coming under pressure from environmental groups to shut down its older coal plants.