CBNNews.com - ASHKELON, Israel - Israel's National Infrastructure Committee said a new carbon power plant will be built in the coastal city of Ashkelon, despite opposition by the health and environmental protection ministries and city residents.

With production ability of Israel's existing power plants reaching record highs, officials are concerned about diminished electricity reserves.

But the Ashkelon municipality, regional council, environmental organizations and the city's residents say the plant will create more respiratory disease.

"According to an initial study, we can estimate that the pollution caused by the plant in Ashkelon will increase the amount of respiratory disease in the area by 10 percent," said Dr. Itamar Grotto, director of Public Health Services.

The plant is slated to be operational by 2015.

Source: YNet news