Cheap at any price! 2

More news from the world of cheap coal:

Santee Cooper said Wednesday that the first phase of its proposed Pee Dee coal-fired power plant [in Florence County, South Carolina] will cost $1.25 billion, up from its original estimate of $998 million.

Even that may be under-stating it:

Blan Holman, a lawyer for the Southern Environmental Law Center, said Santee Cooper's $1.25 billion price tag is "still a lowball" that "doesn't even include the big rise in coal prices or the Hindenburg-sized" costs that could come with proposed new taxes on carbon emissions.

Who's going to be saddled with these large-and-rising costs for the next 50 years?

Ratepayers will pay for the increase, [Laura Varn, Santee Cooper's vice president of corporate communications] said, though it's too soon to say how much it might add to people's power bills.

In response to this news, Varn said placidly, "Coal is still the most abundant and cost-effective fuel source."

South Carolina ratepayers must find her words a great comfort.

David Roberts is staff writer for Grist. You can follow his Twitter feed at twitter.com/drgrist.

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  1. Pompey Road Posted 5:10 am
    31 Mar 2008

    Coal CostCoal on the spot market has risen 5 fold in the past few months.
    A lot of the long term contracts will have up this year, we will see if how long the term cheap coal stays in the vocabulary.

    The eons of time and nature was good to us down here. It was not until we become civilized that destroying our habitat become fathomable or fashionable.
  2. TheGreenMiles Posted 1:54 am
    01 Apr 2008

    Sounds familiarThe "we don't know how much your bill will go up" refrain is also being heard in Virginia.

    Join the discussion on global warming, recycling, and organic beer at The Green Miles!

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