Associated Press

FLORENCE — Environmental groups are organizing their opposition to a proposed coal-fired power plant run by Santee Cooper in Florence County.

The Southern Environmental Law Center has filed a letter of concern with the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, asking the agency to refuse to issue an air quality permit to the utility.

The Coastal Conservation League also opposes the $984 million plant to be built along the Great Pee Dee River near Kingsburg, said Nancy Cave, North Coast director.

"This state is way behind in energy efficiency. We need to go a long way before we start permitting coal plants," Cave said.

There are ways to generate power that are better for the environment, Cave said.

"We feel that the federal Clean Air Act really demands that DHEC force Santee Cooper to look at the best and cleanest technology," Cave said.

Santee Cooper wants to open the plant by the start of 2014. The state-owned utility said it will have two 660-megawatt pulverized coal-fired boilers. The plant should employ about 100 people with an average salary of $50,000 a year.

Santee Cooper wants to start building the plant this year. The utility said as many as 1,400 construction jobs could be created over the next seven years.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the DHEC must give the utility permission to build.

Santee Cooper said it needs the plant to provide electricity to rapidly growing areas along the South Carolina coast.

DHEC has no official response to the letter, but spokesman Thom Berry said the agency hopes to hold public meetings on whether to grant the permits in the next couple of month.

Santee Cooper is a state-owned electric and water utility that generates the power sold to the 20 electric cooperatives throughout South Carolina.

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Information from: Morning News, http://www.morningnewsonline.com/