During a Monday evening meeting, the Pleasant Prairie Plan Commission approved a one-year extension for a Carbon Capture Pilot Test Project being conducted at the WE Energies Power Plant in Pleasant Prairie. Participants in the project include WE Energies, Alstom Environmental Control Systems and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The three organizations are testing a process created by Alstom, which has gained international attention. It is designed to remove Carbon Dioxide from power plant emissions.
In a letter dated September 29, 2008, a representative from Alstom indicated that, "the concept is proving to be successful, and valuable data has been obtained to date." The letter goes on to request an extension in order to, "acquire additional data, test new concepts, and further refine the system to establish more exact parameters for future units now being designed."
The groups' original intent was to have the testing completed by February of 2009. With approval of the extension, the estimated completion date for testing will now be March of 2010. Upon completion of testing, the test equipment will be decommissioned, demolished and the site will be restored to its previous condition.