Portage coal plant renovation to cut nitrogen emissions in half

The Columbia Energy Center power plant outside Portage is in the final stages of work before flipping the switch on a revamped process which will cut nitrogen emissions in half.

The coal-fired plant is installing a selective catalytic reduction system, in one of the plant’s two immense boilers. When it is turned on — which is scheduled for late March, according to Alliant Energy spokesman Scott Reigstad — the system will strip nitrogen from the plant’s exhaust, reducing risks to residents’ respiratory health and environmental hazards that can contribute to acid rain...