Bechtel Group possesses the $US2 billion contract for construction, and is billing the utility at the rate of $US200,000 per day. By June’s end, the total penalties could top $US20 million, and a six-month delay could add some $US70 million to the total tab for the project.

Wisconsin Energy is pleading for a quick decision on the topic or it will be forced to renegotiate the contract it has with Bechtel.

The project’s delay is due to environmentalists, who are challenging the two proposed plants along Lake Michigan with a claim that the state’s air and fish will be harmed.