Duke Energy held a celebration ceremony to mark the start of contstruction on its Edwardsport IGCC plant. While site prepartation for the $2.35 billion plant began shortly after the plant's permits and approvals were all in place, this celebration was held to "mark the unofficial start of construction."

During the ceremony, Duke Energy president and CEO, Jim Rogers, compared the construction of this plant with the 1960s-era race for space.

Jim Rogers, Duke Energy's president and CEO, told Gov. Mitch Daniels and local officials that the 630-megawatt plant's technological innovations were akin to the United States' manned lunar program that beat the former Soviet Union to the moon in the 1960s.

"With this plant we're taking a giant leap for our country," he said.

While Duke information indicates that the cost of building the plant will require an 18 percent rate increase over the next five years, they argued that the pay back from the plant will make the investment worthwhile. They note that,

1. Improved pollution reduction technologies will allow the facility to use more of Indiana's coal resources, thereby bringing more employment back to the state.
2. Employment increases related to construction and operation of the new plant will bring more jobs into the area.
3. By retiring the 1940s 160 MW Edwardsport plant and replacing it with the new plant, Duke will be able to produce ten times more energy, while reducing overall emissions.

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