$2.3B coal-fired plant up and running

MILWAUKEE (AP) - A costly new coal-fired plant near Milwaukee is finally up and running.

The $2.3 billion We Energies plant has two boilers. One is being tested at 25 percent capacity and the other is still under construction.

When completed next summer, the two boilers will generate enough power to serve more than 1 million homes.

Construction of the plant began in June 2005, following complaints from environmental groups. To compensate for the new plant, We Energies retired an old coal-fired power plant in Port Washington and invested in green technologies.

The project was hit with construction delays and cost overruns. That led to a nearly $500 million dispute between We Energies and its contractor, Bechtel Power Corp. An arbitration panel's decision could come as early as next year.