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Mary Schmidt
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920-284-7165
UW-Madison project converts coal-burning plant to biomass
Oct. 25, 2010, Madison, WI: The Boldt Company and its joint venture partner, AMEC, an international engineering and project management company, has been awarded a contract by the Wisconsin Department of Administration for the conversion of a coal-fired power plant on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus from coal-burning to biomass.
The Boldt AMEC joint venture will provide engineering, procurement and construction services for the installation of a new biomass boiler that is capable of burning 100 percent biomass, as well as two new gas and ultra-low sulphur distillate fired package boilers to replace the existing coal fired units. AMEC and Boldt worked together on an addition to the Manitowoc Public Utilities coal plant in Manitowoc, completed in 2006.
At a press conference in Madison, WI, Governor Jim Doyle said “Today, we are breaking ground on the Charter Street biomass plant and taking a major step forward to make this goal a reality. The Charter Street plant will turn a waste stream into clean energy, it will keep energy dollars in our communities, and it will help clean our air and water,” Doyle said.
The Charter Street Heating Plant currently burns 108,000 tons of coal each year providing steam and heating for the campus buildings. Once improvements are complete, the upgrades will significantly reduce emissions at the facility, which will be able to burn biomass fuel up to 250,000 tons a year. Plant efficiency is expected to be improved by 5 to 10 percent and a campus-wide control room will be installed at the plant.
“This joint venture is a unique collaboration between engineering and construction firms as well as the public and private sectors,” said Tom Boldt, CEO of The Boldt Company. “This project reflects both company’s commitment to support state efforts in sustainability and green approaches to economic development.”
In addition to the Charter Street project, Boldt is one of the only regional firms with direct experience working in the biomass field. Boldt will provide all construction services for We Energies to build a 50 megawatt biomass cogeneration plant at the Domtar Paper Mill in Rothschild, Wisconsin. The project is valued at $255 million and is currently being considered for approval by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. The firm also worked with the Laurentian energy authority in Minnesota to construct two wood-fired biomass plants.
Work on the Charter Street Heating Plant has begun and is expected to be completed in 2013.
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Media contacts
Mary Schmidt, BOLDT, 1-920-284-7165 (mobile) mkschmidt@centurytel.net
Lauren Gallagher, AMEC +1 602 757 3211; lauren.gallagher@amec.com
