FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2012
CONTACT:
Jenna
Garland, (404) 607-1262 x 222, jenna.garland@sierraclub.org
Louie
Miller, (601) 624-3503, louie.miller@sierraclub.org
Sierra Club Challenge to Kemper Plant to Move Forward
Harrison County Chancery Court Issues Disappointing
Decision, Sierra Club Will Press On
JACKSON, MS – The Sierra Club will continue to challenge the
Mississippi Public Service Commission’s unlawful approval of the multi-billion
dollar Kemper County Coal Plant project after a disappointing ruling from the Harrison
County Chancery Court. The Chancery Court issued a
ruling late on the afternoon of Monday, December 17, declining to reverse
the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) approval of the experimental and
controversial coal project. Sierra Club will appeal the ruling.
“We respectfully disagree with Chancellor Persons’ decision today,”
said Louie Miller, State Director of the Mississippi Sierra Club. “We know that
the PSC wrongly approved this dirty, expensive, and unnecessary project, and
the economic wellbeing of thousands of families on the coast hangs in the
balance. The Kemper plant was a bad deal when it was first proposed, but in the
last few months we’ve seen huge cost overruns and delays, which will make this
project even more unaffordable for coastal Mississippi Power customers. The PSC
has made the wrong decision twice, and we’ll keep fighting to protect those
customers.”
Sierra Club challenged the Public Service Commission’s
initial approval of Mississippi Power’s proposed Kemper facility, and in March
2012, the Mississippi Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision supporting
Sierra Club’s challenge, ultimately sending the Kemper project back to the
Public Service Commission for reconsideration with additional information. Following
the Supreme Court order, the Public Service Commission acted swiftly and in a
brazen manner to protect the interests of Mississippi Power at the expense of
its captive customer base in Southern Mississippi. Commissioners Lynn Posey and
Leonard Bentz voted to re-authorize the Kemper plant in a
meeting lasting less than one minute.
Since the PSC voted to reauthorize the plant, a series of independent
reports has revealed that Mississippi Power has struggled with construction and
engineering problems, leading to massive cost overruns and delays. Recent
estimates have shown that capital costs for the project alone could reach $3
billion, a significantly higher figure than that authorized by the Public
Service Commission. The Mississippi Business Journal projected that the Kemper
plant would lead to rate increases of at least 45% for residential ratepayers;
if the Kemper project remains over budget, ratepayers may be forced to pay even
more.
"Mississippi Power can no longer credibly claim that the
Kemper plant is in good shape," added Miller. "They need to stop
putting lipstick on this pig and come clean about the true state of the plant's
finances and construction, and the Public Service Commission needs to step in
and pull the plug before customers are made to foot the bill for Mississippi Power’s $3 billion mistake."
###
Connect with the Sierra Club:
|
|
Sierra Club
