SWEPCO APPEALS COURT RULING ON POWER PLANT (UPDATED)

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Monday, June 29, 2009 - 9:34:08 AM

SWEPCO APPEALS COURT RULING ON POWER PLANT (UPDATED)

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SWEPCO plans a full press conference and Q&A today to address why it will appeal the Arkansas Court of Appeals ruling that reversed its building permit for the controversial John W. Turk power plant in southwest Arkansas.

Last week, the appellate court said that the Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC) did not adequately review plans for the plant and it ordered a new hearing to decide whether the plant should proceed. The court said that the APSC failed to comply with a law requiring the utility company, SWEPCO, to demonstrate environmental compatibility with a public need.

The $1.6 billion John W. Turk power plant is currently under construction in Fulton, Arkansas near Hope.

This afternoon’s press conference is slated for 2pm at the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce building in downtown Little Rock. SWEPCO President Paul Chodak and members of the company’s legal team will be available for questions, according to a press release.

UPDATE: Officially, SWEPCO has asked the Arkansas Supreme Court to review its case concerning the Turk plant because of what SWEPCO considers to be errors in an appeals court ruling. There is no timeframe for the state's high court to consider the case.

SWEPCO President Paul Chodak disclosed in a press conference today that his company will continue construction of the $1.6 billion plant. He cited the APSC’s certificate for construction as the legal grounds for continuing despite the Arkansas Court of Appeals ruling.

“The APSC approval was overturned because the court objected to the approval procedure and not because the judges objected to the Turk plant,” Chodak said. “We believe the Turk plant holds the best future for long-term reliability and affordable power for our customers.”

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