Although some area residents worry the project could affect the water levels of local lakes, the University of Wisconsin is awaiting approval to build a power plant on campus.
The plant would be built by the university and Madison Gas & Electric and would be situated next to the existing UW heating plant on the corner of Walnut Street and Herrick Drive. Before construction can begin, the Public Service Commission and the Department of Natural Resources must approve the project and submit an environmental-impact report early this year analyzing the projected plant’s air pollution, noise, aesthetics, water usage and other environmental effects.
University Physical Plant director John Harrod said the plant is essential to provide heat and air conditioning for the campus, especially in the future when new buildings are built, which could bring the campus area an energy crisis if its power needs aren’t addressed.
The $180 million plant could pump up to 500,000 pounds of steam and 20,000 tons of chilled water per hour to the UW campus. Harrod said UW-Madison’s share of the funding has not been finalized, but could reach upwards of $90 million.
Bob Stoffs, community services manager of MG&E, said the power plant will be more efficient than a typical plant because it uses a mechanism of producing power called cogeneration, which produces thermal and electric energy. He said a typical plant draws 35 percent efficiency out of fuel, while a cogeneration plant can extract 70 percent efficiency from fuel.
Cogeneration uses the heat normally wasted from electricity to do other work — in this case, to generate steam to heat university buildings.
Cogeneration is common in Europe and is a growing trend in the United States, but it has some limitations, Stoffs said, including a necessary proximity to the recipients of its electricity.
In order to use the steam, the plant must be built near its consumers, necessitating this plant’s construction on campus. Additionally, the plant must be built near Lake Mendota, because it must drain one million gallons of cooling water per day to condense into steam.
The large water consumption has some Madison residents concerned about the potential effects the power plant could prove to have on water levels. UW junior and WisPIRG member Lisa Barnes said she is worried about severe effects on Lake Mendota, and emeritus professor Ken Ragland said the plant needs excessive amounts of water because it is too large.
In response to concerns, an MG&E report said it is working with the Department of Natural Resources to minimize lake disturbance, and almost all of the water taken in by the plant would be sent through Madison’s sewer system rather than discharged back into the lake.
University officials addressed these and other concerns of over 200 people at an informational open house Jan. 7.
Barnes said the university should work to conserve energy rather than sustain its wasteful energy practices.
“A big chunk of energy use goes to air circulation in labs,” Barnes said. “We should take steps toward alternative energy sources such as wind power to decrease energy use.”
Harrod said the university is doing all it can to minimize energy use, but the power plant is absolutely essential in order to power projected buildings such as the biotechnology building, microbial science building and medical-learning research centers.
“We have a true need for additional heating and cooling,” Harrod said.
After the environmental impact draft is finished, the public will have an opportunity to send in comments and suggestions before the final report is issued. The PSC will then hold a public hearing and base its approval or denial on the testimony of residents at the hearing.
If the PSC approves the plant and plans continue according to schedule, construction could begin as early as 2003 and could power the campus by 2004.
