The money will come from tipping fees, not county property taxes. Stibbe said Boiler 2 passed one dioxin test this spring, and the DNR would like to see a second passing test. Xcel was testing the plant's emissions again in July, but the results are not back from the lab yet, said Pam Graika, Xcel's manger of peaking and renewable energy plants. Xcel was forced to add the equipment, known as a baghouse, after the EPA reacted to environmentalist's complaints and reclassified the plant as a large municipal solid waste incinerator last October. That meant Xcel had to comply with tougher emissions rules that went into effect Dec. 19, 2000.
Small incinerators have two more years to meet similar emissions rules.
The EPA has notified Xcel that it is in violation of the rules, but has not taken any action on possible fines. We plan to start construction next winter. Some of the equipment may even be manufactured in La Crosse, Graika said. Cases like the one filed by the state often are settled out of court. But DNR officials have suggested that in lieu of a fine, Xcel could make a donation to La Crosse County's efforts to start a household hazardous waste collection program.