BambisMusings

In an interview after his speech, Chu was asked about Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, which announced last year it intended to build a $6 billion coal-fired power plant in Surry County. Several nearby residents and environmental groups oppose the project.

Chu said he favors delaying new coal plants until companies further reduce harmful emissions, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, at existing plants. He said that in many cases, upgrading existing plants can be more cost-effective than building new ones.