Public meeting set on Charter Street Heating Plant renovation

A public meeting to detail plans to renovate the Charter Street Heating Plant and present the findings of a draft environmental impact statement on the project will be held Wednesday, May 5.

The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. in Room 1106 of the Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave. Free parking will be available after 5 p.m. in Lot 17 on Engineering Drive.

As part of the project, the plant’s boilers will be upgraded and the its primary fuel will shift from coal to biomass and natural gas during the next three years as part of a $251 million state-funded retrofitting.

The May 5 session will include an informal open house beginning at 5:30 p.m. that will allow participants to view displays regarding the project. A formal presentation will begin at 6:15 p.m. and attendees will have a chance to express any views that they believe should be addressed as part the draft environmental impact statement.

Copies of the draft statement are available at the Madison Public Library, 201 W. Mifflin St., the Hellen C. White Library, 600 N. Park St., and electronic copies are available here.

The public comment period runs through Saturday, May 22, and written comments can be submitted to Ben Peotter, Ayres Associates, 1802 Pankrantz St., Madison, WI 53704 or at peotterb@ayresassociates.com. A final environmental impact statement is expected to be released in June, with another public hearing expected in July.

Additional project information is available here.