To address the rising demands for energy, dozens of new coal power plants have been proposed throughout the country. Yet other factors such as the rising cost of coal, possible CO2 emission controls from Congress, and disapproval from citizens have caused the construction of 63 proposed coal plants to be abandoned in the last four years. The latest of these coal plants to be stopped was here in Missouri, 50 miles east of Excelsior Springs.

Nancy Southworth, a spokeswoman for AECI, told the Carroll County Commission on Monday that the cooperative had two main concerns: The cost to build the plant had increased from just under $1 billion to $1.7 billion, and regulations for costly carbon dioxide controls are being considered by Congress.

“This will force us to find other sources of generation,” she said. “We are looking at gas, energy efficiency, renewables, and we will look at nuclear. All of those are part of the mix.”

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