"Duke Energy will close two of its oldest coal-fired power plants, Riverbend west of Charlotte and Buck in Rowan County in April, two years ahead of schedule."
"Both plants date to the 1920s and had been planned for retirement in 2015. They're among a wave of older, smaller coal plants closing down rather than investing in new pollution controls to meet federal environmental regulations.
The plants had been little used in recent years as larger, more efficient plants came online and falling natural gas prices shifted generation to gas.
Efficiencies in Duke's management of a larger power plant fleet, following its merger last year with Progress Energy, also contributed to the early retirements, the company said."
Bruce Henderson reports for the Charlotte Observer February 1, 2013.
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