Fact Sheet

Following are some facts regarding Weston 4. If you'd like further information, please contact us.

Site - Weston 4 is located adjacent to the Weston 3 unit (360 megawatts/1981). Weston Unit 1 (60 megawatts/1954) and Weston Unit 2 (90 megawatts/1960) are also located on the 345-acre site. There are two smaller natural gas-fired turbines (22.5 megawatts/50 megawatts) also available to operate at the Weston site, if needed.
Fuel - Clean Coal Technology. Low sulfur Powder River Basin (PRB) coal is used for Weston 4. Currently, Weston Units 1, 2 and 3 also use low sulfur coal from the Powder River Basin area in Wyoming.
Emissions - Weston 4 uses state-of-the-art technology to minimize air emissions. All environmental impacts associated with this project have been approved and will be monitored by the regulatory agencies to ensure full compliance with environmental and safety regulations at all times.
Permits - Wisconsin Public Service secured all federal and state environmental permits required to ensure the project minimizes impacts on the natural and social environments. Local zoning permits were obtained. The project is being constructed and will operate in accordance with environmental and safety regulations at all times.
Economic Benefits - Employment during the four years of construction was between 1,000 and 1,200 workers. About 40 positions are needed to operate the plant. Reimbursements from the state utility tax will also benefit the municipalities and counties in which the plant is licensed to operate.
Ash Disposal - Ash generated from the combustion of Weston 4 coal will be marketed and recycled to the extent possible. Ash that cannot be reused will be hauled off-site and disposed of at an existing licensed landfill.
Noise - Weston 4 is designed to control noise impacts. The major equipment of the project will be enclosed in buildings and sound-limiting features are included to minimize overall sound levels.
Water Usage - Weston 4 will use water from the Wisconsin River in its cooling process. A cooling water facility will help conserve water usage and ensure water discharged back into the river does not have a negative effect on aquatic life.
Aesthetics - Weston 4 exterior is slightly larger than the Weston 3 building façade. Weston 4 uses the same exterior color scheme as Weston 3.
Elevation - Weston 4's exhaust stack is approximately 500 feet in height, which is about the same as the Weston 3 exhaust stack.
Rail Traffic - Rail traffic into the plant will increase. Initial estimates are 3 to 4 additional shipments of coal per week will be needed. Currently, 3 to 4 shipments of coal per week arrive at the Weston site for units 1,2 and 3. Each train consists of 110 to 120 rail cars. A continuous-loop track design was added to the site. This will minimize the impact on local road traffic because the rail cars will be driven completely onto plant property before their contents are unloaded.
Weston 4 Contact - Kelly Zagrzebski, Community Relations Leader,
(715)848-7342, KTZagrzebski@wisconsinpublicservice.com.

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