Alabama Power Reducing Coal Use At 3 Plants
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – Alabama Power says it is cutting back on coal use at three generating plants because of federal environmental rules.
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The utility said Friday it will close two coal-fired generating units at Plant Gorgas in Walker County. It’s also eliminating coal as a fuel at Plant Barry near Mobile and its Greene County plant west of Tuscaloosa.
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About 60 jobs are reportedly being affected, but the utility says cuts will come from transfers and attrition, not layoffs.
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The changes are supposed to be finished by 2016.
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The announcement comes just days after hearings on the Obama administration’s plan to reduce carbon emissions.
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Alabama Power says it spent about $3 billion to meet federal environmental rules over the last decade, and it’s spending another $1 billion to meet new air emission standards.
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