EPA v. WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY (5)

Case summary

WE Energies is a large Midwestern coal-fired electric utility. The settlement covers five Wisconsin Electric plants, four in Wisconsin and one in Michigan, consisting of 23 electricity generating units. These five plants emitted over 147,000 tons of SO2 and NOx in 2001. Wisconsin Electric Power Company will spend up to $600 million to reduce 72,000 tons per year of SO2 and 32,000 tons per year of NOx and improve its control of particulate matter (PM) from each of the plants included in the settlement. The company also will pay a $3.2 million civil penalty ($3.1 million to USEPA and $100,000 to the State of Michigan, and spend at least $20 million to finance an environmental mitigation project demonstrating a new technology to significantly reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. The settlement will achieve reductions through the installation of new pollution control equipment, the upgrading of existing pollution controls on several of the units in the Wisconsin Electric system, and through the retirement of some older units. This technology is required to be installed or upgraded on specified units in the Wisconsin Electric system. Amendment is for Milwaukee facility.

Defendants (1)

• Wisconsin Electric Power CompanyNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (5)

• WE ENERGIES PORT WASHINGTON GENERATING STATION

  146 S WISCONSIN ST, PORT WASHINGTON, WI, 530742222

  Registry ID: 110043810276

• WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, D/B/A

  8000 95TH ST, PLEASANT PRAIRIE, WI, 531582206

  Registry ID: 110000417433

• WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY

  2701 N LAKESHORE BOULEVARD, MARQUETTE, MI, 49855

  Registry ID: 110056964030

• WE ENERGIES-OAK CREEK POWER PLANT

  11060 S CHICAGO RD, OAK CREEK, WI, 531547308

  Registry ID: 110070834965

• WE ENERGIES - VALLEY POWER PLANT

  1035 W CANAL ST, MILWAUKEE, WI, 532332613

  Registry ID: 110000419299

Statutes cited

• CAA 165 — Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)
• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Enforcement conclusions (2)

• WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY (5)entered 2014-09-08

  Primary law: CAA

• WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY (5)entered 2007-09-30

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $3,100,000 · State/local: $100,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 2003-03-25Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2003-04-17Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2003-04-29Complaint Filed With Court
• 2014-07-08Final Order Lodged
• 2014-09-08Final Order Entered
• 2016-04-01Enforcement Action Closed
• 2016-04-01Air Resolved