"We, the undersigned members of the UW-Madison faculty, respectfully urge the Chancellor, the Board of Regents and the Governor, to under take a fair and objective consideration of alternative proposals to address Campus needs for heating, cooling and electric reliability. We believe that the principle that has guided debate on this campus for nearly 110 years --THE CONTINUAL AND FEARLESS SIFTING AND WINNOWING BY WHICH ALONE THE TRUTH CAN BE FOUND--should also apply to major energy decisions for the campus. We ask, therefore, that the review of alternatives be subject to the same standards of critical analysis that we, as educators, are committed, and seek to instill in our students. Finally, we note with concern the degradation of the air quality in the area surrounding the proposed power plant, and in which we teach and provide health care services, and where our students and our families live and recreate. Thi s concern requires that the alternative selected have the least adverse ef fect on the environment." Alberto Palloni, Sociology Amy Stambach, Educational Policy Studies Anatole Beck, Mathematics Ann Althouse, Law School Anthony Bleecker, Botany Arun Ram, Mathematics Bart Miller, Computer Sciences Bezalel Haimson, Material Science and Engineering Ca rl de Boor, Mathematics Christina Kendzioriski, Biostatistics Claudia Melrose, Kinesiology Craig Berridge, Psychology Cynthia Czajkowski, Physiology Daniel Kunene, African Languages and Literature Dave Mickel son, Geology David DeWitt, Computer Sciences David Canon, Polical Science David Sorkin, History Diane Bless, Communicative Disorders Eugene Marshall, Philosophy Frederick Buttel, Rural Sociology Gary Wood, Medicine Ivan Soll, Philosophy James Pawley, Zoology Joel Robbin, Mathematics Joel Rogers, Law John Conrad, Engineering Physics Jon Pevehouse, Political Science Jude Shavlik, Computer Sciences Julia Murray, Art History Julia E. McMurray, Medicine Karen Holden, School of Human Ecology Kirsten Wolf, Scandinan vian Studies Laura Knoll, Medical Microbiology Lawrence Bank, Civil and Environmental Engineering Lydia Zepeda, School of Human Ecology Marion Meyer, Zoology Mark Anderson, Civil and Environmental Engineering Mark Craven, Biostatistics Marlene Lee, Rural Sociology Mary Anderson, Geology Mary Vernon, Computer Sciences Michael Streibel, Curriculum an d Instruction Miron Livny, Computer Sciences Nadine Connor, Surgery N eil Richardson, Polical Science Paul Barford, Computer Sciences Ralph Albrecht, Animal Science Richard Burgess, Oncology Robert Bless, Astronomy Robert Brualdi, Mathematics Robert Cook, Engineering Physics Robert Skloot, Theatre & Drama Robert Striker, Medicine Ron Wallace, English Sara Patterson, Horticulture Susan Hagness, Electrica l and Computer Engineering Note: The signers of this partition are faculty members who live in the Regent Neighborhood.
From: John D.Wiley
Re: West Campus Cogeneration Facility
Date: May 12, 2003
I’m responding to your petition of May 5, 2003
regarding consideration of alternative proposals to address Campus needs for
heating, cooling and electric reliability.
As I stated in my letter to Department of Administration Secretary Marc Marotta, UW-Madison’s utility needs have been studied by the university, state, and numerous consultants on an ongoing basis for many years. In 1996, the Campus Master Plan identfied a primary issue to be an impending deficit of utility plant capacity necessary to serve the cooling and heating loads of the University as well as the need to provide the UW with adequate and reliable electrical service. University demand analysis for cooling and heating loads project a deficit capacity in both by the summer of 2005.
In January 2003 the new governor placed all approved and pending state capital projects on hold until a review could be completed. The administration recommended an extended review of the WCCF project to allow for additional questions and comments by the public, and discussion of alternatives to determine whether the state should continue to pursue the joint project.
As part of that review, the university sponsored public hearings on March 13 and April 28 and also solicited written comments. Summaries of the two hearings were created. A comprehensive record of all additional questions and comments received from the community and our responses was also documented. Many of you submitted comments either in writing or at the public hearings. All information has been posted on the Facilities Planning and Management web page (http://www.fpm.wisc.edu).
Since this has been a
joint public/private partnership, the evaluation transcended university needs
to also consider the bigger picture related to the community and the
environment. As you will note upon
review of the public hearing comments, the joint proposal has broad support in
the community from business, labor, research, environmental, medical and
education interests. I believe that
legitimate concerns raised by neighbors regarding air quality, water use and
potential noise associated with the 150-megawatt plant can be effectively
addressed, and we are committed to responding to these issues.
Based on all the information the campus has reviewed, we confirmed our initial recommendation to pursue the joint project. In order to meet campus needs for additional heating and cooling capacity for buildings now under construction, the project needs to move forward. I believe that to choose another alternative, take no action, or return to planning would jeopardize the commitments and investments the state and university have already made for Healthstar and Biostar programs.
xc: Representative Spencer Black
Senator Fred Risser
Harald Jordahl
Alan Fish