Columbia power plant near Portage to get more pollution controls in $110 million project

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Monday for construction of a $110 million air pollution control system on one of the two large, coal-fired generators at the Columbia power plant near Portage.

The selective catalytic reduction system is being built at Columbia’s Unit 2 to slash nitrogen oxide levels by at least 50 percent, said co-owner and operator of the power plant, Alliant Energy Corp. The system injects ammonia into the stream of gases leaving the boiler, converting the nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen and water.

Nitrogen oxide is believed to contribute to smog and acid rain. The project, which started construction over the summer, is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2018.