E. J. Stoneman Generating Station

E. J. Stoneman Generating Station
Location of E. J. Stoneman Generating Station in USA Wisconsin
Country	United States
Location	Cassville, Wisconsin
Coordinates	42°42′30″N 90°59′05″W / 42.70833°N 90.98472°W / 42.70833; -90.98472Coordinates: 42°42′30″N 90°59′05″W / 42.70833°N 90.98472°W / 42.70833; -90.98472
Status	Running: 40 MW renewable energy facility
Commission date	2 units, 1952
Owner(s)	DTE Energy Services
Thermal power station
Primary fuel	Wood waste[1]
Cooling source	Mississippi River
Power generation
Nameplate capacity	40 MW (Active)

E. J. Stoneman Generating Station is an electrical power station located in Cassville in Grant County, Wisconsin.

History

In 1950, the E.J. Stoneman generating station (“Stoneman”) was built by Dairyland Power and placed into service. The plant was named after Erle Stoneman, a director of Grant Electric Cooperative and an original incorporator of Dairyland Power. In 1993, E.J. Stoneman was closed due to economic reasons. In 1996, Dairyland sold the mothballed Stoneman plant to Mid-American power, an Arkansas-based subsidiary of WPS Resources, and put Stoneman back into operation. In 2007, WPS Resources merged with a group of Illinois natural gas utilities, forming Integrys Energy. In 2008, Integrys sold Stoneman to DTE Stoneman, LLC, a non-utility subsidiary of DTE Energy. One week later, Dairyland Power announced an agreement to purchase the facility’s entire 40 MW net output from DTE upon conversion to a biomass burning plant.

Between 2008 and 2010, Stoneman was converted by current facility owner DTE Energy Services from a 100% coal-burning to 100% woody biomass-burning plant. Commercial operation of the 40 MW biomass facility began on October 8, 2010. Renewable energy from the DTE Stoneman plant can power up to 30,000 homes in the Dairyland system.^[2]

Environment

Stoneman's Electrostatic Precipitator (“ESP”) was upgraded during the conversion from a coal plant to a wood-fired biomass facility. The modifications to the ESP allow the system to collect more particulate and work more efficiently. Also installed: a Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction system (“SNCR”) to reduce NOx emissions. A continuous emission monitoring system automatically records data that are used for reports to regulatory agencies. All received fuel is screened; all fuel must comply with strict regulations. Monthly composite samples are sent to a third party lab for testing and analytics. The plant is currently in compliance with all permits and regulations.^[3]

Community

DTE Stoneman directly employs over thirty people full-time, all local residents. The plant spends millions of dollars annually in maintenance costs, largely spent with local companies. Over fifty truck drivers and other personnel are indirectly employed to support the fuel supply of the plant. Stoneman makes charitable contributions spread out to over twenty-five different local organizations. Stoneman provided training and purchased equipment for the Confined Space Rescue Qualification program for the local fire department. This program benefits Cassville and surrounding communities in the event someone is trapped in a confined space, such as a grain silo or a mine.

Units

See also

• List of power stations in Wisconsin

References