Cost of Artificial Island Power Line Doubles to $272M

A cooling tower is seen at the Salem nuclear power plant known as Artificial Island. (Mel Evans/AP Photo)

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP)- The Delaware Public Service Commission says Delaware residents will pay for 60 percent of the cost to build a power line connecting Artificial Island nuclear plant to New Castle County.

    

The commission also said Tuesday that Delaware will receive less than 10 percent of the power line's proposed economic benefit.

    

The Delaware Office of the Public Advocate estimates that utility bills for residential and commercial electricity customers could increase by $13 per month. Small businesses' electric bills could increase by as much as $6,000 per month, while larger businesses' bills could increase by nearly $50,000 per month.

    

Operator of electric grids PJM is overseeing construction of the transmission line. PJM's vice president of planning Steve Herling says residents will receive benefits from the project.

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