Utility Won't Build New Coal-Burning Plant

Back in the early '80s, East Kentucky Power had to hold meeting after meeting with local residents to assure them that its proposed new Clark County power plant would burn coal, not nuclear fuel rods.

Memories of Three Mile Island were still fresh and terrifying, and coal was safe and familiar.

Now it's a coal-burning plant that East Kentucky Power can't get built, even in coal-loving Kentucky.

From the Herald:

East Kentucky Power Cooperative on Thursday permanently canceled plans for a coal-fired power plant in Clark County, handing a major victory to environmental groups that have long opposed the idea.

In a settlement with the groups and others, the cooperative agreed to abandon plans for its Smith plant and not seek to build any coal-fired power-generating units for two years. The environmental groups — Sierra Club, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth and Kentucky Environmental Foundation — have agreed to drop a number of lawsuits and other legal proceedings.

The cooperative and environmental groups also announced they would form a group that will explore how best to implement energy-efficiency programs, which the groups have long advocated as a better solution to meet demand for electricity than a coal-fired generator.

"This is a great day for East Kentucky Power and its customers," said Lauren McGrath, Kentucky organizer for the Sierra Club. "Not building Smith means the co-op won't go close to $1 billion more in debt."

The cooperative's leadership said the decision was based on the plant's cost, not the efforts of its opponents.

"This was really just a business decision more than anything ..." Tony Campbell, the cooperative's CEO, said. "We don't need that plant."

Spin all you want, Tony: Coal is going down.

From victorious Kentuckians for the Commonwealth:

This is a new day for Kentucky’s rural electric co-ops, and a great step toward new power for Kentucky. KFTC member Steve Wilkins, a Blue Grass Energy co-op member, has been active in the campaign to stop the Smith plant and bring new power to the co-ops. About today’s agreement, he said:

"The Smith coal-fired plant meant nearly a billion-dollar investment and a further 50-year commitment to dirty power. Canceling the plant is a breath of fresh air. Even better, resources can now be redirected and the window opened to collaboration on clean energy alternatives letting the sun shine in on a New Power tomorrow; a tomorrow where rural electric cooperatives work shoulder-to-shoulder with their communities making electricity more affordable through energy-efficient housing and renewable energy sources.”

East Kentucky Power is the 600-pound gorilla of electric cooperatives in Kentucky, where they serve the majority of rural residents. That it backed down in the face of pressure from a bunch of tree-hugging liberals is a monster blow to Big Coal.

There's a long, hard struggle ahead, but this is one to celebrate. Throw a few bucks to KFTC to show your appreciation.