(Hawesville, KY - Feb. 12, 2004) - Western Kentucky Energy, a subsidiary of LG&E Energy LLC, hopes to resume construction of the flue gas desulfurization project at its Coleman generating station this Spring.

Work on the project, commonly called a scrubber, originally began in early 2002, but was suspended early in 2003 because of cost overruns. intends to re-bid the project on a fixed cost basis later this month. According to that time frame, the unit could be operational by the first quarter of 2006.

"Although it was a difficult decision to suspend the project it was the prudent thing to do at the time," said Ralph Bowling, 's Vice President of Power Operations. "We have now restructured our efforts and are at the point where we are ready to move forward, utilizing most of the infrastructure that had already been built."

All three Coleman units will tie into the scrubber, resulting in a dramatic improvement in the region's air quality. estimates the scrubber will have the ability to reduce up to 90 percent of the plant's SO2 emissions based upon projected fuel usage after construction. It also will be effective in reducing particulate emissions. Even the scrubber's waste will be converted to a useful product in the form of synthetic gypsum for use in the wallboard manufacturing industry.

The scrubber will allow to burn high-sulfur Western Kentucky coal, while creating about six full-time positions and around 50 regular jobs during construction.

The 457-megawatt Coleman station produced 28.1 percent of 's combined power in 2003. The facility burns an average of 180 tons of coal per hour.

Western Kentucky Energy () generates electricity at Coleman station under a 25-year lease agreement with Big Rivers Electric Corporation. is a wholly owned subsidiary of LG&E Energy, LLC.



LG&E Energy LLC, headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a diversified energy services company that is a member of E.ON AG (NYSE: EON; Frankfurt: EOA) family of companies. E.ON is the world's largest investor owned utility company. LG&E Energy owns and operates Louisville Gas and Electric Company, a regulated electric and gas utility serving Louisville, Ky., and 16 surrounding counties and Kentucky Utilities Company, a regulated electric utility, based in Lexington, Ky., which serves customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia.