Price of coal gasification plant soars

Officials of Charlotte, N.C.-based Duke Energy said that the 630-megawatt plant's cost has gone up because its design has required more steel, piping, electric cable and other materials than originally expected. And the latest increase won't be the project's last.

Duke Energy Indiana President Jim Stanley says the utility will provide another cost revision by next March covering labor, engineering, procurement and plant startup costs.

This price increase and future increases must be approved by state regulators before they can be passed onto Duke ratepayers.