Mississippi Power CEO defends Kemper County plant

BILOXI, MS (WLOX) - The CEO of Mississippi Power tells WLOX News that claims of massive rate increases because of the plant under construction in Kemper County are wrong.

The Sierra Club has said rates will increase 45 percent over the next 10 years. According to CEO Ed Day, that number is a gross exaggeration.

"We have said all along with the original plans for this project, we think over the next 10 years, rates will go up approximately 30 percent. Looking at the plant and how it is progressing, quite frankly, I think it will be a little less than 30 percent," Day said.

Day stopped by WLOX News Monday to appear on Good Morning Mississippi. It was part of a media blitz the company has begun to clear up what they consider to be misconceptions about the plant in Kemper County.

The Sierra Club has filed suit trying to stop construction. Day told us the legal action does not surprise him. In fact, he expects more legal challenges.

"It is kind of a track record of different groups that oppose progress like this. And quite frankly, that is what they are paid to do," Day said.

Some in the community have also expressed concern that the company was not hiring Mississippi people to build the plant. Day pointed out that simply is not true. He cited some numbers to prove his point.

"Currently there are between 1,800 and 2,000 people on site. Believe it or not, close to 1,000 of those are from the state of Mississippi," Day said.

Day also told us that up to this point, the project has employed more than 225 Mississippi affiliated companies.

The Kemper County plant is expected to be in operation by May 2014.

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