Walker proposes selling state-owned heating plants

[roxiejules]

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_75759236-363e-11e0-bb98-001cc4c03286.htmlm - via Wisconsin State Journal 2/11/11

A controversial plan to privatize state-owned power plants, a plan that last caused a stir in 2005 before being vetoed by then-Gov. Jim Doyle, has been revived by Gov. Scott Walker in his budget bill.

The provision would give the state Department of Administration the authority to sell the plants or contract for their operation. The proposal calls for net profits from the sale of the plants to be deposited in the budget stabilization fund.

Opponents in 2005 argued the plan would cost jobs and end up costing the state more for power. State Rep. Brett Hulsey, D-Madison, said that is still true today, that private contractors would end up charging more for power than what the state pays now as owner and operator.

"It's like selling your home furnace to the oil company," Hulsey said. "Yes, you may make a little cash now. But in the end, the oil company's got you. They control you."


http://www.jsonline.com/business/116204654.html - via Journal Sentinel


Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to sell heating and cooling plants could generate hundreds of millions of dollars, but stronger pollution rules that govern the aging facilities could make them less attractive to potential buyers.

The budget repair bill that Walker, a Republican, unveiled Friday would empower the secretary of administration to sell heating and cooling plants at state facilities, including prisons and University of Wisconsin campuses.

Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency began an investigation to determine whether plants at UW campuses and prisons were in violation of the Clean Air Act. In addition, air pollution standards being implemented by the EPA are expected to result in older coal-fired power plants' needing to add pollution controls or switch to cleaner-burning natural gas.

The Doyle administration was moving to replace coal as a fuel source at several sites, including the Charter St. heating plant that serves UW-Madison. That plant would have burned natural gas and biomass instead, but the Walker administration last month pulled the plug on the biomass portion of the project.

[ananda]

1. Boy, Wisconsin sure voted themselves down the river.

Geez.
It's bad here too, but this is Texas. We've been stupid a long time.

[RKP5637]

4. It's getting to be a contest now as to which state(s) can race to the bottom fastest. I think

there's going to be a lot of competition for the honor.

[elocs]

5. If only 20% of those who voted for Obama but did not vote in WI last fall had voted for Barrett

then Walker would have been defeated. He won by less than 125,000 votes. Choosing not to vote does have consequences, a lesson that I would hope that all who support the principles of the Democratic Party would learn. Choosing not to vote is stupid because governments are formed and policies are made by those who choose to participate in the process.

[shraby]

2. If he "sells" them to the Koch brothers, would that be considered

quid pro quo? It will be a no-bid deal with Walker in charge of who gets the deal.

[wilt the stilt]

3. These politicians who think they can sell assets

are unbelievable. Who do they think they are. This is not their property. They are caretakers not owners. This includes daley, Daniels and this jackass.

[RKP5637]

6. The plan marches on to totally privatize the US. The real power behind a lot of this

is not the politicians, as much as the real wealth and power behind the scenes. The politicians are just the enablers, the pawns of the real wealth and power, the ones the powerful feel the citizens are stupid enough to elect into office to do their bidding.

[roxiejules]

7. Seems like the power plants would be a source of income...

...otherwise, why would a private sector company want to buy it??