Marshfield Utilities Could Pay Almost $7,500 for Power Plant Violation
Thursday, May 25th, 2017 -- 9:07 AM
(Marshfield News Herald) -Marshfield Utilities could pay nearly $7,500 to settle claims that it violated state law when it built a power plant without following proper procedures.The plant, which the utility finished building in 2011, contains an emergency electric generator and two combustion turbines. During a 2013 inspection, state Department of Natural Resources officials found that the generator was more powerful than what an air pollution control permit allowed, and that the turbines were different than what the utility had said it would use. Those discrepancies violated the law, the state argued, because the utility failed to follow the specifications of the permit application.
Marshfield Utilities has denied any wrongdoing, and there was no evidence that the power plant actually exceeded pollution emissions limits, records show. An audit, which cost $45,000, did not identify any other significant problems. To resolve the case, the utility has tentatively agreed to pay $7,477 as part of a proposed settlement, according to court documents filed Tuesday in Wood County Circuit Court. A judge must still approve the settlement, a state Department of Justice spokesman said.
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