By Brian E. Clark
WisBusiness.com
We Energies has reached an agreement with Clean Wisconsin and the Sierra Club that will allow the utility to use the so-called “once-through” cooling system it built at its coal-fired Oak Creek power plant, company spokesman Barry McNulty said.
As a result, the state Department of Natural Resources issued a final permit for the plant’s water intake system today.
The environmental groups had wanted to We Energies to use cooling towers and the issue had been tied up in litigation for about two years. McNulty said they have agreed to drop their opposition to the utility’s cooling system.
“We literally just reached the deal today,” he said.
Officials from the environmental groups and We Energies said they would not reveal details of the settlement until next week.
In comments to analysts today, utility Chairman Gene Klappa also said the plant will open several months later than scheduled because of construction delays. It should begin producing power in December of next year instead of September 2009.
