Madison, Wis., University Chief Calls Power Plant 'Critical' to Campus Plan.

By Judy Newman, The Wisconsin State Journal Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jan. 6--A power plant proposed for the UW-Madison campus is "critical" for the university's $320 million BioStar project to build and update campus science buildings, Chancellor John Wiley says.

As part of BioStar, construction began last year on an addition to the UW Biotechnology Building, 425 Henry Mall. Plans also call for a Microbial Sciences building, an addition to the Biochemistry Building and a new Interdisciplinary Life Sciences building to be completed over the next eight years.

The proposed $180 million, natural gas-fueled plant would provide …