Southern Company subsidiary Mississippi Power plans to retire or convert to natural gas several coal-fired units it operates in Mississippi and Alabama as part of a settlement with the Sierra Club. Mississippi Power will convert its remaining coal-fired units at Plant Watson in Gulfport, Miss., to natural gas no later than April 16, 2015. It will also cease coal operations and convert two units to natural gas at Plant Greene County near Demopolis, Ala., no later than April 16, 2016. Mississippi Power also agreed to retire two natural gas units, repower to more advanced technology or convert to a non-fossil-fuel source at Plant Sweatt in Meridian, Miss., by Dec. 31, 2018.
“With the repowering, conversion of retirement of certain units, Mississippi Power’s energy mix is expected to be 60 percent powered by natural gas in 2020,” said Mississippi Power CEO Ed Holland.
The settlement is the result of a lawsuit by the Sierra Club over Southern Company’s coal-to-gas plant in Kemper County, Miss., which is currently under construction. The Sierra Club will drop the suit as part of the settlement. Southern Company will also establish a $15 million grant for an energy efficiency and renewable energy program with the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community Foundation, among other environmental initiatives.
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