Wisconsin Power and Light closes on purchase of Neenah Energy Facility

Wisconsin Power and Light Co., a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corp., has closed on the purchase of the Neenah Energy Facility, an existing 300-megawatt, simple-cycle, natural gas-fired electric generating facility located in the town of Neenah. This purchase will replace the output previously obtained through a purchased power agreement with Calpine’s RockGen facility, which terminated on May 31, 2009.

“This purchase represents the lowest-cost option to meet our customers’ long-term peaking power needs,” says WPL President Barbara Swan. “Having the ability to meet those needs in a cost-effective manner, while providing flexibility for the future, is crucial.”

Peaking power units are traditionally gas-fired combustion turbines that are utilized to meet customers’ needs for electricity on hot summer days when demand is highest. This type of combustion turbine can be started and shut down more quickly than coal-based units, thus affording more flexibility and making it an excellent resource for responding to peak demands.

The Neenah Energy Facility was previously owned by Alliant Energy Resources LLC, a non-regulated affiliate of WPL. The company received approvals from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in April 2008 and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in September of 2008 to purchase the facility. WPL is purchasing the facility for approximately $92 million, the net book value of the plant and related assets.

MOVERS

>> Weidert Group, Inc., an Appleton-based marketing strategy and communications firm, has promoted Abby Gutowski to public relations manager.

>> ImproMed Inc. of Oshkosh has hired Ben Vollbrecht as its web developer and Scott Chamberlain, who will be responsible for assisting and educating ImproMed customers.

>> Skyline Technologies Inc. has added Shelley Johnson, PMP, as senior project manager in its IT Business Consulting practice.

>> Debra Marquette is the new vice president-marketing and communications with Equitable Reserve Association in Neenah.

>> Edward J. Lamm has been hired as executive director of enrollment and marketing at St. Norbert College in DePere.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

ALGOMA: WS Packaging Group has received a “Business Friend of the Environment Award” for environmental innovation by the Wisconsin Environmental Working Group, an affiliate of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Conference. WS Packaging won the award for environmental innovation in part for its efforts at its Algoma facility to keep about 115 tons of waste material per month from the local landfill. The company has partnered with a state firm that turns the waste material into industrial pellets that can be mixed with coal and bio-fuels to heat buildings and generate electricity.

APPLETON: OMNNI Associates has entered into a joint partnership with a local environmental charter school. Brian Wayner, an environmental engineer at OMNNI Associates, is leading the way in the development of a Green Teaching Building to house classrooms for the Fox River Academy, an environmental charter school located in the Appleton Area School District. The school focuses on the environmental, historical, cultural, recreational and economic importance of the Fox River. Students receive instruction integrating all core subject areas using the Fox River and its watershed as an anchor for learning. “We are delighted to enter into this partnership with OMNNI Associates and are truly excited about the opportunities that lie ahead,” says Fox River Academy Principal Tiffany Frerks.

OSHKOSH/DENMARK: Precision Concrete Floors of Oshkosh and Northern Concrete Inc. of Denmark, Wis., received a Golden Trowel award at the 20th annual World of Concrete competition in Las Vegas. The award is given annually by The Face Companies of Norfolk, Va., in recognition of the flattest and most level concrete slabs placed in the world, and only 94 contractors from six countries have claimed a Golden Trowel since the beginning of the contest in 1989. Precision Concrete and Northern Concrete joined together to complete the 254,800-square-foot cement floor for the Sturm Foods Corporation of Manawa.

GREEN BAY: For the Memorial Day weekend Family Guy marathon on cable-television channel Comedy Central, the network created a spot to promote the marathon. The spot featured an animated background element and a 3-D Statue of Liberty, both designed and animated by Jesse Kujava, a partner at the Green Bay digital agency Kmotion Media.

DOOR COUNTY: The Door County Economic Development Corporation has named Roger Utnehmer, president and CEO of Nicolet Broadcasting and the radio stations of DoorCountyDailyNews.com, as the winner of the sixth annual Door County Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Nicolet Broadcasting, Inc. has made significant capital investment, has experienced above-industry growth and a 400-percent increase in sales since moving its main studios and corporate offices to Door County in 2002. The company was recently named as one of the 30 best broadcast companies to work for, based on employee training, compensation and future financial security, by an industry publication.