More public input sought on cogeneration facility

UW–Madison will gather public input on three different west campus power plant options from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Thursday, March 13, at the Waisman Center.

“Public input has been one of many guiding factors we have used throughout this process,” says Alan Fish, associate vice chancellor for facilities planning and management.

The facility has been a regular part of the agenda at meetings of the Joint West Campus Committee — which consists of representatives from four neighborhood associations, the Village of Shorewood, the City of Madison and UW–Madison — for the past 18 months, says Fish. The facility has also been discussed at several neighborhood meetings and informational open houses hosted by Madison Gas and Electric and UW–Madison.

Now UW–Madison seeks comment on a Department of Administration analysis of three proposed facility options, including: a 150-megawatt cogeneration facility owned and operated by MG&E; a 45-megawatt facility owned and operated by the State of Wisconsin and University of Wisconsin; and a heating plant expansion with no electric generating capacity. All of these options would be located at the 600 Block of Walnut Street.

“UW-Madison asked for an analysis of several different options so that we can be sure that we are proceeding with the best possible plan. Before moving forward, we want public feedback on what DOA has come up with,” Fish says.

DOA will present an analysis of the three options at Thursday’s hearing. After that, the hearing will take the same format used by the Madison City Council for public hearings with each person having three minutes to make a statement. Submissions may also be filed in writing with no length limits.

Fish says Thursday’s meeting is meant to supplement other public input opportunities that will come about this spring as part of the legislative budget process and release of the Public Service Commission-sponsored environmental impact statement.

The meeting will be in the auditorium of the Waisman Center, 1500 Highland Avenue. Parking will be available in Lot 82, which is directly behind the building and adjacent to the recreational fields. Visitors should enter the building from the parking lot using the auditorium entrance, which is clearly marked.