"Less than half of Pennsylvania's fossil-fueled power plants have pollution controls, a long-tolerated dirty habit that's now getting its comeuppance in tougher, new federal regulations.

Of the 168 power-generating units listed in Pennsylvania -- the coal-, gas- and oil-burning boilers that provide much of the commonwealth's electricity -- only 78 have modern anti-pollution technology, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report released earlier this month revealed.

Fewer than 60 have advanced scrubbers for sulfur dioxide, a toxic contaminant that travels far on the winds, aggravates asthma and destroys lung tissue."

Andrew McGill reports for the Allentown Morning Call July 23, 2011. [2]