Mary Hansen
The State Journal-Register
City Water, Light and Power’s finances are in better shape than they have been in years, chief engineer Doug Brown told aldermen at a budget hearing Thursday.
Still, officials with the city-owned utility say they need to plan for costly projects to ensure the coal-fired power plant meets federal regulations in the coming years. Republican President-Elect Donald Trump, who takes office Friday, and his administration could ease some of those environmental restrictions, they said.
One example is rules for how the utility deals with effluent, which CWLP would need a plan for by 2018. According to its presentation, CWLP estimates it would have to spend $40 million on a new wastewater treatment plant to be in compliance with the federal rules. The utility earmarked $500,000 in its budget to begin engineering work on a compliance plan, Brown said.
CWLP must also address the condition of its coal ash ponds to comply with U. S. Environmental Protection Agency rules on the safe disposal of the byproduct of burning coal.
Aldermen discussed the utility’s $313 million budget for the fiscal year that starts March 1, in which it cut expenses and kept staffing levels the same as this year at 614. Revenues for both retail electricity and water are estimated to be flat.
Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin asked for numbers on water sales for the last 10 years. He said that could affect discussions about Hunter Lake.
The environmental impact study on the need for a backup water supply including the second lake, which is required for an Army Corps of Engineers permit, should be complete this year.
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The city council will likely vote on a spending plan for the entire city, including CWLP, in early February.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 