BY EMMA DISCHER | Staff writer Happy Wednesday! You've made it halfway through the workweek. Let's get in to today's business news. Lafayette Utilities has announced that it will replace an unused electric generating plant with a modern one that will offset the loss of power when a coal-fired plant the city partially owns is shut down. The project is expected to cost about $350 million, LUS Director Jeff Stewart said. Yes, moderate rate hikes are expected. The details haven't been revealed just yet. Speaking of Lafayette Utilities, the utility system started 127 years ago when a tax was approved for just a few thousand residents. Read more about the history here. Have a great day. See you back here tomorrow. | 