The previous announcement was made prior to a considerable decline in power sales in the initial quarter of 2009 and the increasing probability of legislation in Washington, DC that would place restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions or augment mandates associated with wind power.
Alliant Energy’s proposal was rebuffed as regulators were worried about the likelihood of global warming legislation and the plants’ cost.
Bill Harvey, Alliant chief executive officer, said “We will revise our plan to deal with the setbacks concerning our two baseload plants. But we’ll hold off until we get a clearer picture of the economy, our sales outlook, the financial markets and the workings of Washington, D.C., concerning carbon legislation.”
The company stated that the situation within the industry was very volatile.
Alliant Energy was banking on power demand sustaining its trend of growing annually, when it decided to build a power station in Cassville that would have burned coal and different types of biomass.
However power sales tumbled due to the economic crisis. Alliant stated to investors that the firm is expected 10% less sales to industrial customers in comparison with 2008.
Alliant had been expected to submit a plan to overhaul a natural gas-fired power station in Neenah, but that has been suspended. Due to renewable-energy mandates, the firm continues to proceed with plans to increase its wind power supply, Rob Crain utility spokesman stated.
Harvey said We’re really waiting for the dust to settle on a lot of issues before we decide what to do.”
