Wisconsin faulted for mercury ranking; State 15th in emissions from power plants, advocacy group reports

A recent study by U.S. Public Interest Research Group shows that Wisconsin's emissions ranking is higher than its ranking in population, meaning that the state relies more heavily on coal for electric generation than some states.

The report was issued at a time when the Bush administration's mercury-reduction policies are under fire from environmental groups. Also, Wisconsin officials are sorting out how they will change state mercury regulations, which went into effect in October 2004, to align them with federal rules that went into effect in May.

The study shows that Wisconsin power plants in 2003 emitted 2,457 pounds of mercury, according an analysis of records compiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

That ranked the state 15th nationally; Wisconsin is the 18th most populous state.

Texas ranked first nationally, and Ohio ranked second, the study found.

A ranking of nearby states in terms of mercury emissions showed Indiana, 4th; Illinois, 6th; Michigan, 14th; Iowa, 16th; and Minnesota, 22nd.

In 2001, the Department of Natural Resources sharply broadened its fish consumption advisory from 341 lakes to all of the more than 15,000 lakes in Wisconsin, meaning that women of child-bearing age and children should limit the amount of fish they eat.

Mercury from burning coal settles on water and converts to its more toxic form, and becomes lodged in the tissue of fish. Mercury in fish can lead to learning disabilities and other developmental problems when consumed.

According to the study, Kenosha County ranked 29th among counties nationally for mercury pollution. The county is the home of We Energies' Pleasant Prairie power plant the state's largest.

Another finding of the study: Madison-based Alliant Energy ranked 14th nationally among individual utilities for mercury emissions of its plants operating in Wisconsin and Iowa.

"Given what we know about mercury, we're not doing enough," said Bruce Speight, field director for WISPIRG, the Wisconsin chapter of the national group.

The group backs an upcoming initiative in the U.S Senate that could overturn mercury rules approved by the Bush administration. Those rules call for a 21% reduction in emissions by 2010 and a 69% cut by 2018.

The Bush rules are slightly weaker than Wisconsin's. State regulations would cut emissions by 40% in 2010, 75% in 2015, and, as a goal, by 80% in 2018.

Meanwhile, the DNR is trying to figure out how it will adapt to the federal rules, according to Jon Heinrich, an air regulator with the DNR.

When the agency approved mercury regulations in 2004, it agreed to piggyback regulations coming out of Washington.

WISPIRG is pushing for a 90% cut in mercury emissions in three years.

But business and utilities say those measures go too far, too fast.

At We Energies, an official said the company is taking numerous steps to cut mercury emissions.

Kris McKinney, manager of environmental policy, said the company is working with the EPA on an experimental plan to cut mercury at a plant in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Also, the company is cutting mercury at one of its units at Pleasant Prairie by cleaning up emissions of two other pollutants, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. It hopes to apply that same approach to other units at the plant to help the company meet the law.