Runkle said “Since March 2007, there have been a number of significant changes in the energy picture. Our bottom line is this plant – because of these subsequent changes – is not in the public interest. And any further expenditures of money would be imprudent and unreasonable.”
Runkle affirmed that those variations include a move towards more conservation and away from coal as a power resource. Federal climate variation legislation could also make it more costly to run coal-fired plants.
Jason Walls, Duke Energy spokesman, stated that the Cliffside plant was required to fulfill customer demand.
Walls said “Both energy efficiency and renewable energy projects will also be part of our energy future. But even the recent fluctuations in energy demand do not impact the need to plan long-term and to build new generation.”
He stated that the Cliffside plant will burn coal in a cleaner manner compared to higher polluting, older plants it is being constructed to substitute.
Construction of the Cliffside plant is nearly one-third complete and is scheduled to commence operation in 2012.
