First new unit at Oak Creek Power Plant begins commercial operation

Enstreet News Bureau
2/11/2010

We Energies (Milwaukee, WI), an energy provider has completed the commercial operation of the first of two new 615 MW coal-fired units at Oak Creek. Bechtel Power(San Francisco, CA), general contractor, completed final performance testing of Unit 1 and turned over the unit to We Energies on Feb 2, 2010. We Power, a subsidiary of Wisconsin Energy, owns the unit and is leasing the output to We Energies. We Energies is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the unit.

“This is a terrific milestone for our customers, employees and stockholders,” said Gale Klappa, chairman, president and CEO. The new unit will hold a place in our company’s history as one of the cleanest coal-fueled plants in the world as well as part of the largest construction project in the history of the state of Wisconsin.”

Construction continues to complete the second 615-MW unit, which is expected to be online later this year.

MG&E and WPPI Energy, partners in the project, own 200 MW of capacity of the new units at Oak Creek.

The Power the Future plan was announced in 2000 to help the state of Wisconsin meet its critical energy needs. In February 2002, a detailed application was filed with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for approval to build new electric generation in the state. Construction at Oak Creek began on June 29, 2005, a day after the Supreme Court of Wisconsin reversed the Dane County Circuit Court's November 2004 decision and reinstated the Public Service Commission's final decision and order in all respects involving construction of the Oak Creek Power Plant expansion.

The company’s other generation-related projects that are completed or under way include:

* Two 545-MW natural gas-fired units at the Port Washington Generating Station. The first unit achieved commercial operation in July 2005. The second unit came online in May 2008.

* The Blue Sky Green Field wind farm with 88 turbines and 145-MW capacity. A second wind project, Glacier Hills wind park, was recently approved by the PSCW. Construction is expected to begin on Glacier Hills this year.

* The addition of an air quality control system (AQCS) at the Pleasant Prairie Power Plant and the South Oak Creek units. The AQCS project is complete at PPPP and under construction at the South Oak Creek site.

Source: We Energies