Governor Doyle Announces Charter Street to Burn Biomass
gengberg February 12th, 2009
STATE OF WISCONSIN
JIM DOYLE
GOVERNOR
State Capitol Room 115 East, Madison, Wisconsin 53702 • (608) 266-1212 • FAX (608) 267-8983 • governor@wisconsin.gov
Friday, February 6, 2009
Contact: Carla Vigue, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162
Linda Barth, Department of Administration, 608-266-7362
Governor Doyle Announces Charter Street to
Burn Biomass Moves Forward with NO COAL Pledge for State Heating Plants in Madison
MADISON—Governor Jim Doyle announced today that a new biomass boiler will be installed at the Charter Street Heating Plant as part of his commitment to stop burning coal at state-owned heating plants on Madison’s Isthmus.
“We must move away from our dependence on coal,” Governor Doyle said. “This new project will help build the biomass market in Wisconsin, keep the money we spend on energy in the local economy and create green jobs in the area.”
The new biomass boiler will be capable of burning up to 100% biomass, everything from wood chips to switchgrass pellets, and will eventually be able to burn about 250,000 tons of biomass per year. This demand for biomass will help create and sustain a biomass market in Wisconsin and provide economic benefit for landowners, farmers and processors in the state.
With the switch to biomass, there will be 108,800 fewer tons of coal burned in the area each year and lower particulate emissions. Reducing particulate emissions by moving away from coal at the Charter Street Heating Plant is a key step in working to improve air quality in Dane County and moving the County back into attainment.
The project will be included in the capital budget which is part of the biennial budget process. Additionally, the project may be eligible for funds under the stimulus package which currently focuses funding on clean, efficient, American energy.
The new boiler will be a sustainable, green technology that could burn various types of biomass fuels. It is expected to be online before the end of 2012 and will provide steam for heating and cooling the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.
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