Mississippi Power
Frequently Asked Questions
Kemper County IGCC Project General

Q: What kind of power plant is Mississippi Power building?

A: The electric power plant is a 582-megawatt integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC). IGCC is designed specifically to have an advanced gasification plant and a combined cycle plant work together. This coal gasification facility will be located in Kemper County, Mississippi, approximately 30 miles north of Meridian. It will be owned and operated by Mississippi Power.

Q: Why does Mississippi Power need to build a power plant?

A: Additional electricity by the summer peak season of 2014 is needed to plan for the growing Mississippi population and the future needs of customers.

Q: Why did Mississippi Power choose Kemper County for a power plant?

A: Mississippi Power performed an assessment of numerous sites in the state for the potential addition of an IGCC power plant. Kemper County takes advantage of an untapped, natural resource — Mississippi lignite. The site is close to lignite and natural gas and provides geographic diversity to help balance the electric demand and strengthen electric reliability in Mississippi.

Local Impact

Q: What is the economic impact on the region? (jobs, tax revenue, etc.)

A: Investment - Mississippi Power's capital investment will be approximately $2.4 billion, which will greatly expand the local tax revenue.
New jobs - Approximately 260 permanent jobs from the plant and mine operations, plus 500 jobs during construction (1,000 at the peak of construction) will be created.
Infrastructure improvements - Revenue from the project will enhance local schools and will help equip first responders.

Q: Does Mississippi Power hire locally or use its own crews?

A: Plant operating staff can be hired locally or from within the company, depending upon qualifications. Mississippi Power continually seeks qualified employees. Go to careers Web site to submit a resume and/or apply for current job openings.

Q: Is it true that Mississippi Power is receiving federal funding?

A: Yes. To offset the costs to construct the facility, Mississippi Power has received a $270 million grant from the Department of Energy, $133 million in investment tax credits approved by the IRS provided under the National Energy Policy Act of 2005, and loan guarantees from the federal government. Mississippi Power has also applied for an additional $279 million in IRS tax credits. Mississippi Power also recently received an additional $279 million in IRS tax credits.

Q: What environmental impact will this plant have on the region and the state?

A: The Kemper IGCC facility will have fewer particulate, sulfur dioxide and mercury emissions than traditional pulverized coal plants. Additionally, the facility plans to capture and store 65 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions, making it one of the first, if not the first, IGCC electric generating plants in the country with that capability.

Q: Will there be more traffic on Kemper County roads?

A: Yes. During construction, crews will use an access road just south of Hwy 493 to enter the plant site. Once operational, the facility will sell byproducts from plant operations which will be transported in approximately 12-15 truckloads per day.

Q: What will this do to Kemper County hunting and fishing?

A: In a similar arrangement with a generating plant and an adjacent mining site in Choctaw County, deer, birds and other wildlife coexist with the project. We expect the same peaceful habitat at the Kemper County IGCC facility.

Plant Specific

Q: President Obama talks about "clean coal technology"—what is it?

A: President Barack Obama has made clean energy a national priority. Part of his energy plan is to "spur the development of low-carbon sources of energy -- everything from wind, solar, and geothermal power to safe nuclear energy and cleaner coal."

The IGCC process sends coal through a device called a gasifier. By being subjected to high temperatures and high pressure, the coal undergoes a chemical reaction that creates a synthesis gas. The cleaned "syngas" is then used in a gas turbine to generate power with fewer emissions that traditional coal plants - thereby making it a cleaner technology using coal.

Q: How is CO2 used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR)?

A: Much of the Kemper County IGCC Project CO2 byproduct will be sold for EOR. CO2 injection is a common method of EOR, in which the CO2 is injected into abandoned oil wells to force oil out of the ground.

Q: How much noise will the project generate?

A: Neighbors can expect a quiet operation from the project in Kemper County, with noise levels at the site boundary being lower than those of a normal conversation.

Q: How will the fuel be brought into the plant?

A: All lignite will be transported internally on the mine and plant site by trucks and conveyors that will not cross public roads. Natural gas will be routed to the site from the Tennessee Gas pipeline, which already exists near the property boundary.

Q: When do you anticipate plant construction?

A: With the recent approval from the Mississippi Public Service Commission, construction at the plant site will begin this summer. The plant is scheduled for commercial operation in May 2014.

Q: To what location is the plant waste water discharged?

A: The site will be a zero-discharge facility. Therefore, no processed water from this plant is discharged into rivers, creeks or streams.

Q: What happens to the power plant after the lignite supply is exhausted? How many years will the whole operation last?

A: Over the life of the plant, only a small fraction of proven lignite reserves in Mississippi will be utilized. Typically, the life expectancy of power plants is 30-40 years, but Mississippi Power plants boast a successful history of being well-maintained and stay in operation longer than the industry standard.

Kemper County IGCC Project