Public Service Commissioners Weighing Pros and Cons of $2 Billion Power Plant

A proposed power plant in Kemper County would use natural resources and new technology to provide electricity to South Mississippi. The state Public Service Commission is weighing the pros and cons of the $2 Billion project. MPB's Patty Davis reports.

After five days of public hearings on the proposed Kemper County generating plant, the three member Public Service Commission will determine if the project moves forward. Mississippi Power Co. says the plant would use a new technology that converts lignite, a natural resource found in Kemper County., into a gas. The power created would be added to their power grid in Meridian and according to Spokesperson, Cindy Duvall, would benefit utility customers in a 23 county service area in South Mississippi.

Duvall:Our Mississippi Power customers will benefit from the stable fuel source that we found in lignite and us being able to protect them from the volatile fuel market with natural gas.

Gulfport resident, Linda St Martin is worried that the cost of the project will end up on the back of consumers.

St Martin: I cannot afford for my electric bill to double. Convenience stores and mom and pop businesses and small businesses, their bills are gonna double.

The Sierra Club calls the project dirty, expensive and unnecessary, while Meridian officials say they could recycle industrial gray water, and attract new business. Commissioners Brandon Presley and Leonard Bentz say in the end, their decision will be based on what's best for rate payers.

Presley and Bentz: Our public interest mandate in the law is to ensure that the public interest is met. All of those kings kind of comprise that. I feel safe to say we are all for economic development.. sure absolutely... and want job creation.. absolutely... but you can quote this, commissioner Bentz will not be voting to approve this plant based on the pure fact of job creation... me either.

If the PSC decides there's a clear need for the plant, they would then move into phase two of the process which could completely change the footprint of the proposed plan.