WPS agrees to settle Clean Air Act violations

GREEN BAY (AP) - The U.S. Department of Justice says Wisconsin Public Service Corp. has agreed to pay a $1.2 million civil penalty and make substantial investments in pollution controls in order to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act.

Federal prosecutors say the agreement requires the utility to reduce emissions from its coal-fired plants in Green Bay and Weston. WPS has agreed to invest about $300 million in pollution control technology and $6 million in environmental mitigation projects.

WPS spokesman Kerry Spees says the utility has been evaluating its power generation strategy in recent years, including what to do with the old coal-fired plants. He says the utility has until 2015 to decide whether to permanently retire, refuel or repower some of the units at the two plants.

The settlement was filed in federal court in Milwaukee.