Mississippi Power said last week its Kemper County coal-gasification plant will tally up another $9 million in overruns, a cost that the company promised to absorb.
The coal gasification plant now carries a $6.8 billion price tag, more than double its original estimate. Parent entity Southern Co. is responsible for $2.5 billion of the overall cost and wrote off $38 million before it announced its quarterly earnings last week. Southern said it spent $23 million on the Kemper plant in the second quarter.
Mississippi Power said the plant, designed to capture carbon dioxide emissions from coal, is scheduled to be completed by Sept. 30, but the company said it could announce further delays later this month. The plant is currently generating electricity by burning natural gas.
More: The Associated Press
Consumers Proposes Charging Station Network in Rate Request
Consumers Energy is proposing to construct a statewide electric vehicle charging network as part of its pending rate increase request before the Michigan Public Service Commission. The utility wants to install more than 800 charging stations at a cost of $15 million to its ratepayers.
Consumers spokesman Brian Wheeler said the plan would address the lack of public charging stations, earn Michigan recognition in renewable transportation and make residents more comfortable with the idea of purchasing an EV.
While stakeholders are generally supportive of the plan, advocates say Consumers should structure charging rates so EV owners see a savings over purchasing gasoline. Some also question whether general ratepayers should subsidize utility investments, including EV infrastructure.
More: Midwest Energy News
Ameren to Fund $2M in Clean Projects Under Settlement
Ameren Missouri and the Sierra Club have reached a settlement over the environmental group’s allegations that Ameren had repeatedly violated the Clean Air Act at three coal-fired plants.
The agreement, filed in U.S. District Court, requires Ameren to create a $2 million fund for “environmentally beneficial projects.” The Sierra Club said that the money will be split among community solar projects and a clean electric bus program in the St. Louis area.
The Sierra Club alleged that Ameren committed nearly 8,000 emission violations at its Labadie, Meramec and Rush Island plants from 2009 to 2013. The group said it settled partly because Ameren promised to take steps to retire the Meramec plant by 2022.
More: Sierra Club; St. Louis Public Radio
ICF Signs $11M Deal to Help KCP&L Customers Go Green
Global consulting and technology service provider ICF International has signed a three-year, $11 million contract with Great Plains Energy to support subsidiary Kansas City Power and Light’s residential energy-efficiency programs.
ICF will educate customers about the programs, which include heating and cooling rebates, a LED discount and income-eligible multifamily rebates.
“ICF helps us get [the] word out to customers in hopes of changing that behavior,” a KCP&L spokesperson said.
More: Kansas City Business Journal
FirstEnergy Completes Demolition of Burger Plant
FirstEnergy on Friday demolished an 854-foot concrete stack and the last remaining building at the former coal-fired R.E. Burger Power Station in Ohio.
The company plans to transfer the property to PTTGC America if the latter decides to construct an ethane gas cracker plant on the site.
The Burger plant, which began operating in 1944, was retired in 2011.
More: FirstEnergy; The Times Leader
NIPSCO Expands Indiana Car Charging Station Network
Northern Indiana Public Service Co. installed a public electric vehicle charging station last week at the offices of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission in Portage.
The charging station is part of the utility’s two-year-old IN-Charge Around Town program, which encourages drivers to go electric. The utility has installed 80 stations throughout northern Indiana. The commission’s new charging station is free to use.
More: Post-Tribune
MidAmerican to Build Iowa’s Largest Wind Project
The developers of what is billed as Iowa’s largest wind energy project reached agreements with major customers, including Google, Facebook and Microsoft, that will allow the facility to go forward.
Commercial customers had objected to some terms of the development, including the return on equity demanded by MidAmerican. The developer wanted 11.5%, the customers proposed 9.5% and they settled on 11%.
A final decision from state regulators on the 2,000-MW Wind XI project is expected in September, with construction to begin in December. Construction must begin by Dec. 31 in order for the project to receive the maximum federal production tax credits.
More: Midwest Energy News