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Helping Our Clients Breathe Easier with Air Quality Solutions

Industrial and other air-polluting operations are required to comply with the Clean Air Act during operations, and to obtain permits before operations. Before a shovel hits the ground, an air permit must be in place, which means our clients’ developments need application packages prepared, submitted, reviewed, public-noticed, approved and issued before any on-site work can begin.

Our air quality staff jumps in when clients need us. We clean up after other unsuccessful compliance efforts by obtaining new authorizations, resolving compliance violations and doing anything else necessary. Sometimes clients’ plans change — and we’re there to help. Other times, air regulations change — and we’re there to help again.

We focus on developing the best client solutions within the rules for each operation, industry and geographical location. Our networked group of scientists and engineers cover all U.S. states, all U.S. EPA regions, foreign countries and a variety of industries.

Our expertise includes:

  • Air Dispersion Modeling
  • Construction Permits
  • Title V and Operating Permits
  • PSD and Nonattainment Federal Permits
  • Annual Emission Inventories
  • Transportation Conformity
  • Impacts Analyses
  • Greenhouse Gas Monitoring and Reduction
  • Practical Implementation of New Rules
  • A Strong Sense of How to Help Our Clients Succeed

Wisconsin Power and Light Riverside Energy Center Expansion

We’ve been assisting Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL), a subsidiary of Alliant Energy, as its owner’s engineer (OE) in the development of a nominal 700 megawatt (MW) electric generating facility in southern Wisconsin. The project–known as the Riverside Energy Center Expansion (RECE) will be built adjacent to WPL’s existing Riverside Energy Center (REC) in Beloit, WI. The RECE project will utilize natural gas combined-cycle technology, like the adjacent existing 600 MW REC facility.

Our OE role on this project features a host of services, including:

  • Technology Assessments
  • Siting Analyses
  • Regulatory Process Support
  • Integrated Resource Planning Support
  • Preliminary Engineering
  • Preparation of Bid Specifications
  • Bid Reviews
  • Procurement Assistance
  • Air Permitting
  • Water Supply and Discharge Permitting

Two primary project deliverables required air quality expertise for the RECE project. The first was the air emissions permit application, prepared according to Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) rules, which are administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The second was the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) application. The CPCN application is submitted for review to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) for approval to construct a new electric generating capacity. The CPCN process includes the development of a state EIS or EA.

Our team helped WPL to obtain timely approval of both the CPCN application and the PSD permit application in an environment where regulatory agencies and environmental groups often closely scrutinize any project involving fossil fuels combustion. After the team satisfied several requests for additional information, WDNR issued the PSD permit on March 21, 2016. The PSCW deemed the CPCN application complete after the initial filing, which (as understood by the project team) is the first power generation facility application to achieve this feat. The CPCN was granted on May 6, 2016. Achievement of milestones was critical to advance the project. It will ultimately help WPL meet its goal of having a commercially available power plant by early 2020.