from staff reports
Mississippi Power Co. got an important green light from the Public Service Commission on Monday: an acknowledgment of the company's need to increase its baseload generation.
The company plans to increase that capacity with its proposed lignite coal plant in Kemper County.
Central District Public Service Commissioner Lynn Posey said Monday that Mississippi Power had "demonstrated that public convenience and necessity requires or will require additional generating capacity" in hearings on the issue last month.
"Further, after a review of the entire record, the Commission notes that the record contains no credible evidence to support a finding that MPCO has no need or that this Commission should not proceed to phase two of these proceedings," Posey said in a written statement.
The needs hearing was the first hurdle for Mississippi Power. Next up: a hearing on how the company plans to meet those needs and if the Kemper County plant is the best way to meet it. Those hearings are set to begin Feb. 1.
Mississippi Power officials declined to comment Monday on the PSC's announcement; they are expected to review the filing and release a statement today.
