Dairyland Power Cooperative

Press Releases

  • The Weston 4 power plant, of which Dairyland Power Cooperative has a 30 percent ownership interest, has achieved commercial operation. Wisconsin Public Service Corp., the majority owner, constructed and will operate the plant which is located near Wausau, Wis. The newly constructed 525 MW (nominal rating) power plant will use clean coal technology, a high efficiency boiler, use low sulfur coal as fuel and feature sophisticated emission controls to minimize environmental impacts. “Despite continuing emphasis on conservation, demand for energy in Dairyland’s four-state service territory is projected to continue increasing. Our partnership in the Weston 4 facility helps to ensure that our cooperative membership can count on a dependable, clean supply of electricity for generations to come,” said Bill Berg, Dairyland President and CEO.
  • Dairyland has executed a power purchase agreement with a subsidiary of DTE Energy Services, Inc., to purchase the full 40 MW expected electrical output of a proposed new biomass power plant located in Cassville, Wis. The facility will burn wood waste to generate renewable energy for the members of the Dairyland system. A subsidiary of DTE Energy Services will own and operate the facility, which is the former E.J. Stoneman Power Plant. The plant will be converted from burning coal to instead utilize wood-waste biomass for fuel. The proposed plant is scheduled to come online June 1, 2010. Its 40 MW of biomass renewable generation will be enough to power 28,000 residential homes in the Dairyland system “We are very pleased to be part of an alliance with DTE Energy Services that benefits both our members and the environment,” said Bill Berg, Dairyland President and CEO.
  • More than 700 delegates and guests attended Dairyland Power Cooperative’s 67th Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 4. The theme of the meeting was “Generation for Generations.” Since 1941, Dairyland has been committed to reliably meeting energy needs while addressing environmental and economic concerns, and will continue to do so for future generations. William Berg, Dairyland President and CEO, illustrated how Dairyland has kept that commitment through the generations—from the early years when the utility was the first to bring electric light and heat to local rural communities to today’s investments in renewable energy and state-of-the-art efficient power plants. “When we look back on Dairyland’s history, we see that our cooperative built and planned not only for the present, but always also for the future. Our philosophy has been to always make things better by what we do, and build on what we have done in the past,” said Berg.
  • Dairyland has donated $10,000 to the Myrick Hixon EcoPark currently in development in La Crosse. The contribution is earmarked for an educational kiosk about raptors, specifically the Peregrine falcon. Dairyland Board of Directors Chairman Clarence Boettcher presented the check to La Crosse Park Commissioners at the park board’s 100th anniversary celebration on May 15. “As a cooperative, one of our founding principles is to help educate and strengthen the communities we serve. A contribution to the EcoPark, which will be a wonderful environmental education facility, is a perfect match for this mission,” said Boettcher. The Myrick Hixon EcoPark will completely renovate the current zoo at Myrick Park, changing it from a typical zoo to a multi-faceted education destination. The EcoPark will be populated with animals native to northern North America in their natural habitats, such as the Peregrine falcon.
  • Dairyland Power Cooperative announces the hire of John Carr to the position of Director, Fuels Management, effective May 12. As Director, Fuels Management, Carr will be responsible for the purchase and transport of the fuel needed to produce electricity at Dairyland’s power plants. Carr, a native of Austin, Minn., has a bachelor's degree in Economics from Iowa State University. He has 20 years of professional experience in grain marketing and transportation, trading and risk management, utility fuel supply operations, and energy marketing.
  • Dairyland Power Cooperative and its member cooperative, Tri-County Electric, have donated $1,000 to Mississippi River Wild to help fund a spotting scope project at the Mississippi River Refuge observation area in Brownsville, Minn. This new observation area attracts hundreds of bird watchers from many areas, particularly during the fall migration. It is the premiere viewing location for tundra swans, eagles, ducks and geese. “Contributing to the permanent, mounted scope is a great match for Dairyland’s commitment to environmental stewardship and education in the communities we serve. Now, birdwatchers will be able to enjoy the incredible wildlife in the Refuge even more,” said Don Huff, Dairyland Director of Environmental Affairs.
  • Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle has proclaimed the week of April 28 to May 3, Dam Safety Awareness Week. Dairyland Power Cooperative joins the Midwest Hydro Users Group (HUG) in promoting safety awareness at dams. HUG is an association of dam owners whose purpose is to promote safe, efficient and economical use of hydroelectric power. Dam Safety Week is meant to heighten the safety awareness of recreational and fishing enthusiasts as they return to the waterways. Many of the accidents that occur near dams could be prevented by using common sense, practicing safety, staying clear of dams and understanding the dangers to be found near them.
  • Dairyland has granted a conservation easement to Mississippi Valley Conservancy (MVC) to permanently preserve 110 acres of Mississippi River bluffland near Alma, Wis., in Buffalo County. Dairyland owns the land, which borders the Great River Road (Hwy. 35) and includes rare oak savanna habitat, as well as mature hardwood forests and dry bluff prairie areas. The land has significant natural, wildlife and scenic value, and consists mainly of steep river bluffs with rocky outcroppings, native dry prairie and old growth mixed hardwood forest. “Working with MVC to conserve this beautiful and ecologically very important area has been so rewarding for Dairyland, as preserving the land will benefit all Mississippi River Valley community members. It’s satisfying to know that this land will be protected and enjoyed for perpetuity, without threat of development,” said John Thiel, Dairyland Senior Environmental Biologist.
  • Together, Dairyland and its member cooperatives are encouraging energy users to “Do the Bright Thing” by providing members with ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. In 2008 alone, 300,000 ENERGY STAR CFL bulbs will be distributed to cooperative members, with more planned in 2009. ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. By installing CFLs in fixtures that are used the most in your home (such as your kitchen, living room or dining room), you can save approximately $30 or more over the lifetime of each bulb.
  • Dairyland has completed its expansion of the Veolia ES Seven Mile Creek Landfill gas-to-energy (LGE) facility with the addition of a fourth 1 MW generator and gas conditioning system. The Seven Mile Creek plant now produces enough renewable energy for 3,325 homes.
  • The Weston 4 power plant, of which Dairyland Power Cooperative has a 30 percent ownership, has produced its first megawatt-hour of electricity. The coal-fired power plant, newly constructed near Wausau, Wis., was synchronized to the grid during initial start-up testing procedures on Thursday, March 20. The power plant will be in the start-up and testing mode for another two months. Wisconsin Public Service Corp., the 70 percent owner, constructed and will operate the plant.
  • As part of Dairyland Power Cooperative’s continuing investment in cleaner air, the cooperative is retrofitting its Genoa #3 Generating Station with state-of-the-art environmental control equipment that will significantly reduce air emissions. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) is holding a hearing on a permit that allows Dairyland to construct the new equipment on Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at the Stoddard Village Hall (Conference Room), 180 N. Main Street, Stoddard, WI.
  • Dairyland is planning to reduce mercury discharges to the Mississippi River as part of its wastewater permit renewal for its Genoa Site. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) is holding an informational hearing on this permit renewal on Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 5 p.m., at the State Office Building, in La Crosse. “We are aware that there has been misleading information distributed to the public, prior to this hearing that implies that Dairyland is planning to increase our discharges of mercury,” says Don Huff, Director, Environmental Affairs. “This is not true, and to the contrary, we are planning to reduce our discharges.”
  • Dairyland is investing in more landfill gas renewable energy through power purchase agreements and facility expansion in early 2008. Waste Management, Inc.’s, Timberline Trail Landfill Generating Station (Bruce, Wis.) is expanding its renewable energy production from 3.2 MW to 5.6 MW with the addition of three 800 kW engines. All generating units are expected to be online by the end of January. Dairyland is expanding renewable energy operations at the Veolia ES Seven Mile Creek Landfill Generating Station (Eau Claire, Wis.) with the addition of a 1 MW engine. Currently, the 3 MW Seven Mile Creek facility can power 2,500 homes. Once the new unit is online this spring, Seven Mile Creek will be able to power approximately 3,300 homes in the Dairyland system.

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