A century of coal-burning ends at downtown power plant

For the first time in 100 years, no coal is being burned at Downtown Madisonâ??s Capitol Heat and Power Plant, said David Helbach, Wisconsinâ??s director of state facilities. The state will spend about $25 million this fall to install gas boilers that will allow the plant to cool and heat Downtown office buildings using only natural gas. The switchover is part of a court agreement between the state and the Sierra Club calling for the elimination of coal at two state-owned plants: UW-Madisonâ??s Charter Street Heating Plant and the Capitol plant. Converting the Charter Street plant from coal to biomass is expected to cost $251 million.