An air permit for this project was issued October 14, 2008, but in January 2009 Mississippi Power was ordered to reapply for the air permit because of a change in the technology they will be using. Operation of the facility is expected in 2014, according to project website in March 2011. This plant would 'earn' $133 million in tax credits. As October 2009, MS Power was still proving the need for the proposed plant. Hearings on the plant's costs are scheduled to begin in February of 2010. Cost earlier estimated to be $1.8 Billion. Now is $2.7 Billion with a cost cap of $2.88 Billion. Mississippi ratepayers would pay for the plant even if it's never built, causing a 33% or greater increase in electric bills, through construction work in progress (CWIP) policy. As of 2011, being challenged on 3 levels: -Mississippi Public Service Commission -Department of Energy's National Environmental Policy Act challenge to the federal funding -Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality permit appeal Capable of carbon sequestration, but not planning to do so unless they can sell the CO2 to oil companies to extract more oil using "enhanced oil recovery" A 12,000 acre lignite strip mine would accompany the plant, to be located at the headwaters of the Pascagoula River watershed. It would be expanded to cover 31,000 acres over 40 years. Proposal calls for mining 2 million tons of lignite a year in the initial 5-year permit.