Duke Energy has agreed to a settlement announced next Friday , with the environment and citizens' groups , also called the company in the renewable energy sector investments to increase its presence in western Indiana power plant in June 2018 through a share of the exit coal .
State administrative law judge is responsible for reconciliation, which is signed by the Citizens' Action Alliance on Wednesday , Duke Energy , Sierra Club (Sierra Club), Valley Watch and Save the Valley.
Settlement ending the challenge of radical organizations , the new 3.5 billion coal gasification plant, to go online this summer, Duke Energy 's national air permit. Southwestern Indiana plant themed moral flap Duke University officials and regulators after being found in the discussion of the project costs.
618 -megawatt power plant , in 2007 the original cost estimate of $ 190 million , but eventually ballooned to about $ 350 million . Duke Energy said that ratepayers can expect to see in the monthly bill from the early 2014 14-16% growth , due to higher costs in the vicinity of Edwardsport plant , about 60 miles north of Evansville .
Jodi Perras, who is responsible for the Sierra Club (Sierra Club) Beyond Coal campaign in Indiana, said that the solution involves Wabash Indiana plant will help reduce air pollution , the use of coal -fired power plants aggravate respiratory diseases.
June study by the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council, ranked ninth Wabash River Station coal-fired power plants in 25 states , said it is responsible for half of the mercury pollution in the Great Lakes region . Wabash River Station 295 pounds of mercury emissions released in 2010 , according to the study , the use of data and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates .
Indiana currently receive more than 90 percent of its electricity from coal-fired power plants.
" Although today's settlement is a step in the right direction , more must be done to ensure , Indiana home is protected rising energy bills and enormous health threats , Indiana coal plants caused by reliance " Perras said in a statement .
Under the settlement agreement , Duke Energy agreed to June 1 , 2018 , four coal-fired units at Wabash River Station西特雷霍特retirement date to the 1950s , and generate 350 megawatts of electricity combined .
Duke also agreed to June 1, 2018 stopped in the fifth unit in Wabash River Station coal-fired and said it was exploring burning natural gas conversion unit . The settlement does not prevent it before the deadline to make such a conversion.
Angelina Protogere Duke spokesman said the sixth unit owned by the Wabash Valley Power Association , and from synthesis gas powered .
Charlotte, North Carolina -based Duke had previously announced that it plans to shutter four units from the 2015 Wabash deadline to comply with new federal mercury emissions limits. However, the protocol specifies that the Duke of moth balls of these units by the 2015 deadline or must be done - if the mercury rule is revoked or delayed - , June 1, 2018 ( whichever occurs first ) .
"We are pleased to resolve these issues , our new , cleaner Edwardsport plant modernize our fleet, so we retire older coal-fired generation , " Duke Energy Indiana President Doug Esamann said in a statement .
Edwardsport plant will replace the previous energy generated by the old plant , Protogere said. She added that the new plant will emit about 70 percent , reduce sulfur dioxide , nitrogen oxides and particulate matter than the old plant combination .
The settlement agreement includes a commitment to renewable energy , called the Duke of implementing solar power a 30 -megawatt " tariff " or construction or otherwise for the 15 megawatts of wind and / or solar power contract. Tariff provides a set of green energy projects such factors as the type and size based on the long-term price .
Under the settlement agreement, if Duke chooses to pursue the 15 MW option, which must be determined by June 1, 2018 retirement , two decades old oil emission peak of the station called Miami Wabash and Connors Vail units generate about 166 megawatts. Only those small power units for high power demand periods .
The agreement also provides that if Duke Energy seeks 15 megawatts of renewable energy options , four units will be sealed , must be made by mercury rule compliance deadline or June 1, 2017 retirement , whichever comes first prevail.
Although the settlement ends activist group " challenge Edwardsport plant air permit , it does not affect their case , now before the Indiana Court of Appeals , seeks to overturn the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission ruling on the total plant cost overruns more than $ 16,000 .
"We and our allies will remain diligent in continuing to combat the scandal -ridden Edwardsport IGCC power plant ratepayers should not be forced to pay a penny , defeat it," Olsen said Colvin , Citizens' Action Alliance executive director.
 



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