The Environmental Protection Agency informed the state Thursday it will investigate 15 of Wisconsin's power plants, including three in Madison and nine on UW campuses.
The investigation is being conducted to evaluate whether these plants are in violation of the Clean Air Act, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. The EPA has already identified the Mendota Health Institute and plants at UW campuses in Oshkosh, La Crosse, River Falls and Eau Claire as below standard.
""We just received the letter,"" Department of Administration spokesperson Emily Winecke told the State Journal Thursday. ""We've been working on these issues for some time and will continue to provide the EPA with the information they requested.""
The other two Madison power plants facing scrutiny are Capital Heat and Power and Hill Farms.
Unlike the other plants undergoing investigation, the Charter Street Heating Plant is transitioning from using coal to biofuel and natural gas, which would cut its emissions by 30-90 percent.
However, Governor-elect Scott Walker wrote to Gov. Jim Doyle requesting the state stops work on the Charter Street Heating Plant, claiming natural gas is cleaner and cheaper than biofuel.
The Charter Street plant will be functional in 2013.
