On Monday, Progress Energy Carolinas announced plans to permanently shut down all of its remaining coal-fired power plants that are not equipped with special air quality controls known as “scrubbers.”
This decision means that by 2017, 11 coal-fired units at four Progress Energy power plants will be taken offline. Added together, this represents about 30% of Progress Energy’s coal-fired generation in North Carolina.
This is great news for cleaner air in North Carolina – it means emissions of sulfur dioxide will be reduced by thousands of tons and emissions of mercury by hundreds of pounds, not to mention significant reductions in harmful particulate pollution and nitrogen oxides. It’s also great news for healthier air in North Carolina, since these pollutants are known triggers of respiratory problems like asthma, especially in children and other vulnerable populations.
But the best news in this announcement is really about creating a greener and more sustainable energy future for North Carolina. Retiring these 11 coal-fired units will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pave the way for new cleaner energy sources, including natural gas and renewable sources. It also reduces the large volume of coal ash that must be disposed of from each coal-fired unit.
As we work to make North Carolina a leader in cleaner energy and green jobs, this announcement is a great sign of the progress we are making and the diverse mix of energy sources that will power our state in the future.