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Alliant has asked the state Public Service Commission for permission to build a third plant in Cassville, a town of about 1,150 people on the Mississippi River in southwestern Wisconsin.
The state Public Service Commission, the state Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a draft report on the $777 million plant’s environmental impact Wednesday.
The study projected barge traffic could double or triple around a new unloading facility, posing a greater risk to boaters. About 20 acres of forest and 16 acres of cropland may have to be cleared to accommodate the facility and new railroad tracks serving it, reducing bald eagle habitat.
The report also said thousands of mussels could be affected, including about 200 individual mussels considered threatened or endangered in Wisconsin. The actual impact was still being evaluated, however.
The plant would mostly run on coal, although some petroleum coke, an oil byproduct, and biomass would be used, said Ken Rineer, an environmental analyst at the PSC.
“Local air quality would be expected to decrease,” although air pollution would likely fall within the DNR’s accepted limits, the report said.
Alliant spokesman Scott Smith didn’t immediately return a message.
The utility has maintained it needs the plant to keep up with increasing demand for power. The company says the plant could provide enough power for 150,000 homes. It hopes to get the facility online by 2012.
Alliant has proposed building a similar plant for $795 million near Portage as an alternative.
The study found that project have no significant affect on wetlands, recreation or local land use. But it would affect about 60 acres of previously disturbed field vegetation and an acre of forest.
An endangered snake, endangered lizard and threatened turtle could be affected by construction there, the report said. It did not identify the animals.
Alliant must get the PSC’s approval and a DNR air permit before construction can begin.
The commission will take public comment on the draft study until June 30. Those comments will be included in the final environmental impact statement, expected to be completed in July or August. The commission has until mid-December to issue a final decision.
Clean Wisconsin, an environmental advocacy group, said in a statement the draft environmental report shows the plant would pollute the air and water, contribute to global warming and increase Wisconsin consumer’s electric bills.
The report estimates residential customers paying about $50 a month could see an increase of $6.16 to $8.38 per month to cover the plant.
