Coal Plant Cancelled

South Carolina’s state-owned utility has shelved its plan to build a massive coal-fired power plant on the banks of the Great Pee Dee River. The Santee Cooper facility would have pumped out more than 10 million tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide each year, as well as toxic mercury pollution and other harmful emissions. The utility’s own board voted to suspend construction of the plant, citing the economy and the potential cost of possible cap-and-trade legislation as reasons for the suspension.