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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Settlement Allows Coal Plant to Go Online and Brings Millions to Lake MI

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Thursday, August 7, 2008   

Oak Creek, WI – More than $100 million will be used to improve the water quality of Lake Michigan. It's part of a settlement in a long-running legal battle over using lake water at a coal-fired power plant in Oak Creek.

The settlement requires the owners of the plant to invest more than $100 million over 25 years for lake cleanup projects and to battle invasive species. These actions will clear the way for the Oak Creek Generating Station to open using its lake water cooling system. Mark Redsten, executive director of the conservation group Clean Wisconsin, says the deal is in everyone's best interest.

"This settlement provides long-term commitment of resources necessary to help find solutions to many of the issues that Lake Michigan faces."

Clean Wisconsin and the Sierra Club had filed the lawsuit. Their concern over the lake cooling system is that, when the water is returned to the lake, it is warmer, which affects water quality and can harm fish and habitat.

Redsten calls the settlement an example of how everyone has to work together in order to diversify energy production to include clean, renewable sources.

"We look forward to working with the utilities - instead of in an adversarial role, in a complementary way - to make sure the elements of the settlement agreement really take place."

The agreement has also gotten kudos from the owners of the plant, a group that includes We Energies, Madison Gas and Electric and Wisconsin Public Power, Inc. The companies have indicated they will support legislation that would establish a renewable energy standard for Wisconsin.



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