Settlement Cuts Cost of Pollution Control Plan

A federal court ruling on power plant emissions has prompted a settlement cutting the cost of Big Rivers Electric’s pollution control plan by $225 million. The Kentucky Public Service Commission announced the settlement Monday. The electric company had proposed spending more than $283 million on pollution control systems for the plants in Hawesville, Centertown and two in Sebree in order to comply with federal rules. But in August, a federal court overruled some emission control regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency. The new plan costs almost $59 million and will have less of an impact on consumer electric rates. However, the EPA must make new regulations that may require Big Rivers to install additional controls at a late time.