Cities buying power despite air concerns

PROVO, Utah (AP) — Several Utah County cities are considering buying electricity from a coal-fired power plant in central Utah that has environmentalists concerned about air quality.

Lehi City staffer Ed Collins told a council meeting this week that some California cities, facing environmental pressures, have dropped out of the project. Still, the council approved a 30-year contract with the plant.

"The city decided to participate in this project because it represents a well-priced, reliable base-load resource," Collins said. Base-load power is electricity that can be produced 24 hours a day.

The $2.6 billion, 900-megawatt Intermountain Power Plant Phase III would be built next to two existing plants near Delta. Environmentalists warn that the increased emissions will spoil air quality.

Intermountain Power Agency is owned by nearly two dozen municipal utilities in Utah. Southern California cities purchase 75 percent of the electricity produced at the two existing units. Groundbreaking for the third is planned for 2008.

Eagle Mountain, Lehi, Payson, Springville and the South Utah Valley Electric Service District, which serves unincorporated areas in south Utah County as well as Woodland Hills and Elk Ridge, have either already voted to purchase power from the plant, or will vote within the next month.