STATUS: In progress with opposition
TYPE: Coal
OPPOSITION: Sierra Club, Valley Watch, Kentucky Sierra Club, Appalachain Voices, Save the Valley
PROSPECTS: Indeterminate
BACKGROUND: In 2005, the Kentucky Public Service Commission approved the developer’s application to expand the Trimble County electric generating plant near Bedford, Kentucky by constructing a 760-megawatt coal-fired unit (TC2). The facility was completed in the summer of 2010, is undergoing final testing, and should be fully operational by the end of the 1st quarter of 2011. Construction costs have been approximately $1.2 billion.
Sierra Club and others have aggressively litigated against the plant based on its CO2 emissions and its other alleged environmental impacts, including the potential for a coal ash release. The air permit litigation began in 2007. A final air permit issued in January 2010 has not been challenged and is valid and effective. A final wastewater discharge permit was issued in April. Sierra Club and its allies challenged the permit claiming it fails to properly protect against a potential coal ash release, contains inadequate discharge limits, insufficient monitoring requirements, and fails to control high temperature discharges. In September, a State hearing officer rejected these challenges. However, the litigation appears likely to continue.
SOURCES: http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2005/10/31/daily10.html
http://pepei.pennnet.com/display_article/303715/6/ARTCL/none/none/1/New-Coal-Technology-to-Flourish-at-Kentucky-Plant/
http://www.whas11.com/news/local/Trimble-Co-approved-for-coal-ash-pond-power-plant-80031747.html
http://www.impa.com/future-resources.asp
http://www.sentinel-echo.com/business/x1566851603/Kentucky-Utilities-seeks-11-5-percent-rate-increase
http://www.streetinsider.com/Trader+Talk/Correction+-+Fitch+Assigns+Expected+Rtgs+to+KY+Utilities+Co.,+Louisville+G%26amp%3BE+and+LG%26amp%3BE+and+KU+Energy/6079668.html
LAST UPDATED: December 2, 2010