CHARTER TO BURN BIOMASS

Local Officials Celebrate Governor's Commitment to Clean Energy

Governor Doyle announced today that the Charter Street Plant will be converted to biomass by 2012. The plant, which currently burns 108,800 tons of coal a year, will receive a new boiler that is capable of burning 100% biomass - about 250,000 tons per year. "This is great news for the campus and the city of Madison," said Alder Eli Judge, in whose district the plant is found. "District 8 residents have been subjected to the air pollution from this plant for too long. It's important that we do everything we can to avoid non-attainment status, and this is a step in the right direction." The project, which will be included in the governor's capital budget, is expected to increase the market for biomass, something that could help Dane County's farmers. "Converting to cleaner fuels is one way to build the new energy economy," said Satya Rhodes-Conway, District 12 alder. "There's no question this will make a difference in our air and water quality. I hope we can do something similar with all the coal plants in Madison." The Charter Street Plant is one of three coal plants in downtown Madison, and the largest coal plant owned by the State.