Clean-Coal
Plant Set for Clark County, KY
11 /10/2004
Co-op Pledges Community Partnership
$500 million project to bring jobs, boost economy
East Kentucky Power Cooperative,
headquartered in Winchester, Kentucky, announced plans on November
10 to build a clean-coal power plant in Clark County, creating hundreds
of construction jobs, boosting the region’s economy and generating
electricity for Kentucky homes and businesses.
“Smith 1” is the second clean-coal plant that EKPC has
announced in two months, and will be the third such facility in
its generating fleet. EKPC’s total investment in clean-coal
technology will be more than $1.3 billion.
Commerce Secretary Jim Host, who attended the announcement at the
J.K. Smith Station in the Trapp community, said EKPC has proven
to be a state leader in developing clean-coal plants that significantly
reduce emissions and improve Kentuckians’ quality of life.
“This is a major step in showing the rest of the country how
to use coal as an increasingly clean resource,” Host said.
“Kentucky already is the nation’s leader in low electric
rates. Now, we’re leading the way with coal and advanced technology
to fuel our future.”
Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet Secretary LaJuana S.
Wilcher said the use of new technology will benefit the state.
"This unit, utilizing new technology, will burn coal cleaner,
protect the environment and provide economic opportunities for our
citizens," Wilcher said. "It is a great example of new
technology allowing our economy to prosper while protecting our
environment."
Roy M. Palk, EKPC president and chief executive officer, said EKPC
will work closely with local citizens and public officials on all
aspects of the project as it moves forward.
“We are proud of our reputation as a true corporate citizen
in Clark County and the region,” Palk said. “This is our
home, too, for more than 50 years. That’s why we are committing
today to partner with the community on this project, and to adhere
to the highest level of corporate citizenship.”
The $500 million project will benefit the economy and the environment,
including:
• Up to 700 construction jobs at an average of $60,000 a year.
• $11 million in state property taxes in its first 20 years
of operation.
• $1 million in revenue for Clark County from payroll taxes
during construction.
• New market for up to 1.2 million tons of coal each year.
• Sharply reduced emissions through the latest, proven clean-coal
technology called “circulating fluidized bed.”
• 98 percent less sulfur dioxide and 5 times less nitrogen
oxide than a conventional pulverized coal power plant.
• Enough electricity to supply 19 cities the size of Winchester
– 278 megawatts – that’s dedicated to serve the cooperative
member-owners in Kentucky.
Palk said the plant is needed because of strong growth among the
16 not-for-profit distribution cooperatives that receive power from
– and own – EKPC. The member systems are growing at a
rate more than twice the national average, he said, and are adding
more customers than any other electric utility in the state.
It will be built at the J.K. Smith Station, a 3,000-acre site owned
by EKPC in Trapp that already contains seven natural gas “peaking”
units that only operate on the hottest and coldest days of the year.
EKPC will seek approval from several regulatory agencies, including
the Kentucky Public Service Commission and the state Environmental
and Public Protection Cabinet. Smith 1 also will have to meet strict
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) under
the federal Rural Utilities Service.
If approved by regulators, Smith #1 is expected to begin producing
power in 2009. It will be identical to the E.A. Gilbert and Spurlock
Station Unit #4 plants in Mason County, which are scheduled to go
on-line in 2005 and 2008, respectively.
East Kentucky Power’s mission is to provide reliable power
at the lowest possible cost. “We’ve been doing it for
more than 50 years, and thanks to our members, we do it well,”
Palk said.
“We’re proud of our history, our reputation and our commitment
to local communities. Most of all, we’re proud of our vision
for the future – because it is a vision for Kentucky, not for
profit.”
EKPC is a not-for-profit organization providing wholesale electricity
to 16 distribution cooperatives that serve 480,000 Kentucky homes,
farms, businesses and industries across 89 counties. EKPC provides
power through plants located in Mason, Clark and Pulaski counties,
along with gas peaking units, hydro power and more than 2,600 miles
of transmission lines. Together, EKPC and the member cooperatives
are known as Kentucky's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.
For more information, call Kevin Osbourn, (859) 744-4864 ext. 419
or (859) 771-3100.
Kentucky Association of
Electric Cooperatives, Inc.
4515 Bishop Lane * Louisville, KY 40218
502-451-2430 * FAX: 502-459-3209 Terms of Use
