The project, which is expected to cost more than $400 million, would generate sufficient electricity to power about 30 cities the size of Maysville, according to a news release.

Gov. Ernie Fletcher said the new generator would create millions of dollars of tax revenue for local and state governments. Over the next four years it was also expected to create hundreds of construction and permanent jobs, Fletcher said.

"This is a huge investment in the environment, the economy and the people of Kentucky," Fletcher said.

Currently, the power company is building a similar unit at the same plant that's scheduled for operation by April. If approved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission, the new generator may go online by 2008, EKPC spokesman Kevin Osbourne, said in a phone interview.

Right now, there are two electricity generators at the plant, he said.

Roy Palk, EKPC's president and CEO, said the clean-coal technology that will be used in the generators should rank them among the nation's cleanest burning power plants.

Palk said the project would generate about 700 new construction jobs, at an average annual salary of about $60,000. It would also create dozens of permanent plant jobs there, he said.

The new generator would be able to use coal from both eastern and western Kentucky, according to the release

It will also be capable of burning millions of tires and tons of wood each year, Palk said.