Smith plant gets new PSC scrutiny
BY JAMES BRUGGERS | JBRUGGERS@COURIER-JOURNAL.COM | JUNE 24, 2010

The Public Service Commission in Kentucky has decided to review whether East Kentucky Power needs its planned new Smith plant in Clark County.

This is the latest twist in a hotly contested 278-megawatt coal-fired power plant project that East Kentucky says it needs for base load, but environmentalists have challenged at almost every turn.

A commission press release, found here, said issues raised in a complaint and a financing case were serious enough to warrant another examination for the need of the plant. In the order opening the investigation, the PSC directed the cooperative to turn over data related to its projections for future energy demand, and what steps it's taking to reduce future demand energy conservation and efficiency.

The PSC approved construction of the plant in 2005, but re-evaluated that decision in 2007, resulting in a scaling back of its size.

PCS officials said they would hold a hearing later this year.

posted by James Bruggers at 4:44 PM