The report said that Progress Energy Carolinas, under the legislation approved by the North Carolina General Assembly, can meet 2013 emission regulations by replacing an old power plant rather that building scrubbers to control emissions at a separate power plant.
Last month, the company filed with the North Carolina’s Utilities Commission to get permission to replace three coal-fired plants of 1950s era at the Lee power plant in North Carolina, with new, combined-cycle, gas-fueled plants. The new plants are expected to cost approximately $900m.
The state Utilities Commission has time until early October to approve or reject the company’s plan for new power plants, under the legislation passed in July.
If the plants are approved, Progress Energy will abandon its plans to spend $330m to build scrubbers at its 600MW coal-fired Sutton Plant located north of Wilmington, Reuters reported.
