Contact: Scott Reigstad (608) 458-3145
Air quality control system recognized for safety excellence and best project of the year
MADISON, Wis. – December 7, 2015 – A large air quality improvement project at the Columbia Energy Center near Portage, Wis. has received both an Excellence in Safety and Midwest Best Project of 2015 award. The honors were recently given by the Engineering News-Record (ENR), a leading engineering and construction news publication.
“We are proud of the Columbia Energy Center’s environmental technology upgrade project and how it was successfully executed,” said John Larsen, President of Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin utility. “It’s gratifying that our employees and our engineering and construction partners hard work on the project is being recognized.”
Alliant Energy and its Columbia co-owners, Madison Gas and Electric Company and Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, added scrubber and baghouse systems to the generating station’s Units 1 and 2 to reduce sulfur dioxide and mercury emissions by 90% on each Unit. The air quality improvement technology is exceeding emission performance expectations.
Project construction took over two years with a peak workforce of over 750 people and approximately 2 million work hours without a lost time accident. The contractor, subcontractors and Alliant Energy worked closely as team to maintain a strong safety culture throughout the project.
Black & Veatch, the lead design firm and contractor on the project, submitted the application for the awards. Other large subcontractors during the construction included API Construction Co., Babcock & Wilcox, BVW Power Constructors, J.P. Cullen and Sons and Jamar Co.
The ENR Regional Best Projects Awards celebrate and honor the building teams that created the best projects of 2015 nationwide. These extraordinary projects are selected by juries of local prominent industry professionals.
Panelists selected winning projects on the basis of quality, innovation, safety and the ability of their project teams to overcome unique challenges. All ENR Midwest projects were honored at a late November awards breakfast in Chicago.
Alliant Energy Corporation’s Wisconsin utility subsidiary, Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL), utilizes the trade name of Alliant Energy. The Wisconsin utility is based in Madison, Wis., and provides electric service to 465,000 customers and natural gas service to approximately 185,000 customers across central and southern Wisconsin. The employees of Alliant Energy focus on delivering the energy solutions and exceptional service their customers and communities expect – safely, efficiently and responsibly. Visit alliantenergy.com or call 1-800-ALLIANT (800-255-4268) for more information. Alliant Energy Corporation is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNT.
