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Tampa Electric Scraps Plan To Build Coal Plant In Polk

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By RUSSELL RAY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 4, 2007

TAMPA - Tampa Electric Co. said today that it has dropped plans to build a $2 billion coal gasification plant in Polk County, citing regulatory uncertainty and potentially high costs for equipment to lower carbon dioxide emissions.

"With the uncertainty of carbon capture and sequestration regulations being discussed at the federal and state levels, the timing is not right," said Tampa Electric President Chuck Black. "We are not prepared to expose our customers and shareholders to that risk."

The announcement comes one day after a watchdog group, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said it was gearing up to fight plans for the plant.

A two-day hearing on the utility's proposed coal gasification unit was set to begin Wednesday before the state Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities.

Black said the utility will consider building a different type of power plant, such as one that uses natural gas, to meet its customers' growing demand for power.

The utility said it expects to file a new power plant proposal with the PSC next summer.

Reporter Russell Ray can be reached at (813) 259-7870 or rray@tampatrib.com.

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