Clean coal power plant ordered to run on natural gas

Mississippi regulators are drafting a plan for utility giant Southern Company to use only natural gas at its state-of-the-art “clean coal” power plant in Kemper County, and that it not be allowed to recoup the cost of the expensive coal portion of the power plant by charging ratepayers.

The Mississippi Public Service Commission on Wednesday unanimously passed a motion instructing its counsel to prepare an order by July 6 that outlines “potential solutions” for keeping the Kemper County Power Generation Facility running on natural gas in order to reduce the burden of the plant’s construction on consumers.