ENERGY

Report fires debate over Cassville plan

Madison environmental group Clean Wisconsin says a draft environmental impact statement on Alliant Energy's plan to build a coal-fired power plant at Cassville shows the plant should not be built.

The report, released Wednesday by the state Public Service Commission, says the coal-fired plant "is not the optimal generation choice" and "is not the least-cost option under any scenario." It says using natural gas for fuel may be an advantage, but uncertainty about the cost and availability of gas make any potential gain "doubtful."

The analysis confirms that the coal plant "threatens both Wisconsin's environment and Wisconsin's economy," said Katie Nekola, of Clean Wisconsin.

Alliant spokesman Scott Reigstad said officials of the Madison utility holding company are still reviewing the lengthy document. He said it does not jeopardize plans for the Cassville plant, along the Mississippi River, south of Prairie du Chien.

PSC spokesman Timothy Le Monds said the draft report is "not a recommendation either way." Public comment will be accepted until June 30.

EXPORT ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Dairy Expo and Foremost are honored

The World Dairy Expo, of Madison, and Foremost Farms USA, of Baraboo, were among recipients of the Governor's Export Achievement Awards, which were announced this week. The winners are:

Small Agricultural Exporter: Main Street Ingredients, La Crosse.

Large Agricultural Exporter: Foremost Farms USA, a milk marketing and manufacturing cooperative headquartered in Baraboo.

Agriculture Export Plus: Sanimax, Green Bay.

Small Manufacturing Exporter: Extrusion Dies Industries, Chippewa Falls.

Large Manufacturing Exporter: Appleton, a paper and packaging company.

Manufacturing Export Plus: Rite-Hite Corp., Milwaukee.

High Tech Exporter: Criticare Systems, Waukesha.

Export Assistance Provider: World Dairy Expo, Madison. The annual expo event is an international meeting place for the dairy industry.

FRIEND OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Three area companies receive awards

Two Dane County companies and one in Rock County have received Wisconsin Business Friend of the Environment awards from the Wisconsin Environmental Working Group, an affiliate of the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce business association.

Standard Imaging, of Middleton, and Gorman & Co., of Oregon, were recognized for environmental stewardship. Kettle Foods, of Beloit, won for environmental innovation.

Other award recipients, listed by category, were:

Pollution prevention: OMNOVA Solutions, Green Bay; N.E.W. Plastics Corp., Luxemburg; and Quad/Graphics, Sussex.

Environmental innovation: Cardinal Environmental, Sheboygan; and Opportunity Development Centers, Wisconsin Rapids.

Environmental stewardship: Menominee Tribal Enterprises, Neopit; and Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse.

BRIEFLY

An open house will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Care, 1848 Waldorf Blvd., on Madison's West Side. The facility was built using environmentally friendly building practices.

SABMiller Brewing PLC will buy the rights from rival Anheuser-Busch Cos. to distribute Grolsch beer in the United States. SABMiller said the distribution of the Dutch beer will be done by its U.S. subsidiary, Milwaukee-based Miller Brewing Co. Financial terms were not disclosed.

— State Journal staff, wires