Article: Dust collection system had experienced recent trouble

The coal dust collection silo where an explosion occurred Tuesday at We Energies' Oak Creek Power Plant had not been used since at least Jan. 25, said Tom Zelinski, an air management engineer with the state Department of Natural Resources in Milwaukee.

Zelinski said that on Jan. 25, the utility reported mechanical problems there.

Prior to Tuesday's blast, the silo was to resume operating today, according to We Energies spokeswoman Irissol Arce. Zelinski said he had planned to inspect the dust collection system Thursday to check whether it was operating properly.

Heavy snow that accumulated atop coal in rail cars this winter caused intermittent problems with the collection system, Zelinski ...

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