The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

American Municipal Power reconsiders Ohio plant

Area health group's focus already on child obesity problem
2/10/10
Man reportedly shot at apartment complex
2/10/10
Woman, 19, reports rape, declines to pursue charges
2/10/10
Local pharmacist joins online cardiac venture
2/10/10
Supporters trying to keep aviation film festival on this year
2/10/10
> More headlines

The Associated Press Updated 1:41 PM Thursday, November 26, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio — American Municipal Power Inc. scrapped plans to build a coal-fired power plant in southern Ohio because construction costs jumped from $3.3 billion to $4 billion, officials said.

The 1,000-megawatt coal plant, which would have provided electricity to parts of Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia, had been the target of environmental groups since its announcement six years ago.

But American Municipal Power insisted in a statement Wednesday that the opposition had nothing to do with its decision. The Columbus-based nonprofit company said it will turn its attention toward developing a natural gas-fired plant.

"We have to develop a business plan and see what makes sense," spokesman Kent Carson said.

The coal plant had been planned for a site near Letart Falls in Meigs County, where local officials said the project would have created as many as new 490 jobs.

The project also had the support of state officials, who approved a $30 million low-interest loan in June.

Environmental groups said American Municipal Power made a tough but correct decision to cancel the coal project, citing the likelihood of new federal limits on carbon dioxide emissions that would make the plant's electricity too expensive.

"Not only was the coal plant going to raise people's electric rates, but it would have added to all the pollution that is making our children sick and roasting our planet," said Nachy Kanfer, a representative of the Sierra Club in Ohio.

Natural gas plants emit about half the carbon dioxide as a coal plant and are significantly cleaner with regard to other emissions, said Shannon Fisk, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

American Municipal Power supplies power to suburban Columbus, Cleveland and 74 other Ohio communities.

___

November 26, 2009 06:36 PM EST

Share this article