Senator Marklein & Representative Tranel Applaud Unanimous Passage of Utility Aid Legislation
Senate Bill 252 passes unanimously out of State Senate
 

MADISON—State Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and State Representative Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City) applauded the passage of Senate Bill 252 out of the State Senate today.
 
“By the end of the year, two power plants located in the Village of Cassville are scheduled to close. The closures mean the loss of over 90 good-paying jobs. This is a huge blow to the community and the families that rely on those jobs,” Tranel said.
 
“We are both pleased to see such swift action on Senate Bill 252, which helps to alleviate some reductions in state aid payments to Cassville and Grant County due to the closing of the two plants in the village,” Marklein maintained.
 
Under current law, communities such as Cassville would see a dramatic reduction in state aid for utility aid payments due to the closure of power plants. Communities that have a plant closure would go through the decommissioning process, which includes a gradual step-down in state aid payments to that particular municipality and county. The current statutory process for plant decommissioning only applies to nuclear and wind plants, not biomass plants. The bill would change the law to include biomass and coal burning plants as part of the decommissioning process.
 
“We would like to thank Senator Frank Lasee and Representative Joel Kitchens for working with us on this important piece of legislation for the communities in our district who have experienced or will experience a plant closure. The participation of Grant County and the Village of Cassville throughout the legislative process has been vital in helping us pass this bill,” Marklein said.
 
After today, Senate Bill 252 awaits passage on the floor of the State Assembly and a signature by Governor Walker.