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For nearly four years, the Charter Street Heating Plant (CSHP) has been the stage for a rollercoaster of environmental and budgetary battles. Below are some key milestones in the development of energy policy in Wisconsin and their impact on the CSHP.

Created by bielanski202 on Feb 27, 2011

Last updated: 02/27/11 at 03:42 PM

• Biomass no more at CHSP
  Jan 20, 2011

  The new Walker administration cancels plans to construct the biomass boiler at the CSHP. The administration tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that they estimate a savings of 75 to 80 million dollars as a result. Critics note that the biomass boiler would have stimulated a biofuel industry and ensured more energy dollars remained in the local economy. The CSHP continues with plans to replace coal-powered boilers with boilers that use natural gas.

• Walker elected Governor
  Nov 2, 2010

  Voters elect Republican Scott Walker to be the next Governor of Wisconsin, as well as electing a majority of republicans to the State’s Assembly and Senate.

• Contract awarded for CHSP work
  Oct 25, 2010

  Appleton, Wis.-based Boldt Co. and international engineering consulting firm AMEC plc announce in separate press releases that they have been awarded the contract to convert the CSHP from a coal- to a biomass-burning facility. Boldt anticipates the contract, valued at $255 million, will be completed by 2013.

• EIA says gas at all-time low in 2009
  Jul 1, 2009

  The U.S. Energy Information Administration release a report that said natural gas reached a seven-year low in 2009, due in part to a weakened economy and higher-than-usual production levels.
  http://ftp.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_gas/feature_articles/2010/ngyir2009/ngyir2009.html

• CHSP plan released; biofuel an major part
  May 21, 2009

  Governor Doyle releases the final plan for upgrading the plants 38- to 50-year-old boilers to use only natural gas, oil and biomass. The plan also calls for an on-site biomass research labs and upgrades to control system to improve efficiency.
  http://www.news.wisc.edu/16755

• Doyle: No future in coal
  Aug 1, 2008

  Governor Jim Doyle announces in a press release that coal would not be a part of the future for state heating plants in Madison, including the CSHP. This announcement came after feasibility studies done by the Department of Administration and the University of Wisconsin. This feasibility studies were done as a part of a settlement following the Sierra Club decision.
  http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journal_media_detail.asp?locid=19&prid=3566

• CSHP found guilty
  Nov 7, 2007

  U.S. District Court Judge rules in favor of the Sierra Club, stating that the CHSP is operating illegally after failing to install pollution controls on their coal-based boilers between 1999 and 2004. UW-Madison’s Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning and Management Alan Fish told the Wisconsin State Journal that the ruling spurred plans already under way to reduce the use of coal at the plant.
  http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/article_a82a6bda-e978-5a52-b930-fe7b7db74ac0.html

• Sierra Club sues UW-Madison
  May 7, 2007

  The Sierra Club files a lawsuit against UW-Madison for violations of the Clean Air Act. The lawsuit alleged that UW-Madison’s CSHP did not comply with the Clean Air Act after it failed to install modern pollution controls during several periodic upgrades.
  http://host.madison.com/news/local/article_3dbc4817-e406-5ebb-af9b-c01e6e8331c6.html

• "25 X 25": Towards Energy Independence
  Apr 5, 2007

  Governor Doyle signs Executive Order 192, establishing the Office of Energy Independence whose goals include, among others, generating 25 percent of power through renewable resources and capturing 10 percent of the emerging bio-industry and renewable energy market. Governor Doyle says that Wisconsin is uniquely positioned to be leader in biomass fuel production.
  http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journal_media_detail.asp?locid=19&prid=2611