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The latest version of the Walker administration's proposed budget repair bill that, released Wednesday, dropped a proposal to sell off or outsource the operation of energy plants that provide heating and cooling to state facilities.

The planned sale of the energy plants, which Gov. Scott Walker sought earlier as part of the public-sector workers bargaining and budget-repair bill, drew fire from opponents because of a no-bid clause that allowed the state Secretary of Administration to sell the facilities without competitive bidding.

Opponents had expected the proposal to resurface, either in the new version of the budget repair bill -- or during the Joint Finance committee's deliberations on the 2011-'13 budget. One factor driving interest in selling the plants is environmental liability associated with burning coal and air pollution violations that have been alleged at some of the plants. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is looking into the state's power plant fleet.

The no-bid controversy involving up to 37 heating and cooling plants was a side issue during the Madison controversy over collective bargaining rights for public-sector employees.

See earlier coverage of the issue here, and here.