Gulf Power to retire two coal-fired units at Plant Smith by 2016

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Gulf Power, a subsidiary of Southern Co. (NYSE: SO), announced plans to retire coal-fired generating Units 1 & 2 at the Plant Smith power plant by March 31, 2016.

The company said it was in their customers’ best interest to retire the units, located near Panama City, Florida, after stricter regulations were imposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The facility will continue to operate and produce electricity with its state-of-the-art combined-cycle natural gas-fired unit, which went into service in 2002.

The utility will still be able to supply power to its customers through its sister companies Georgia Power, Mississippi Power and Alabama Power. Additionally, Gulf Power will utilize Plant Crist, a coal-fired facility, which added a $650 million scrubber in 2009.

Plant Smith's units have operated since the mid-60s and can produce a total of 375-MW.

Employees will be transitioned to other jobs within the company.

 

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