Duke Energy will close 1,600 MW of coal-fired capacity that do not have emissions control technology installed as part of an air permit-related settlement the utility reached with several environmental groups early this year.
Duke reached the settlement with the groups, including the Environmental Defense Fund, the National Parks Conservation Association and the Sierra Club, to resolve an administrative challenge to an air permit for the 825 MW Cliffside Unit 6 in North Carolina. The unit is under construction and near completion. Duke previously committed to retiring 200 MW of older capacity at the Cliffside station when the new unit comes online in 2012 and retiring another 800 MW of capacity elsewhere by 2018.
However, the settlement calls for the retirement of 1,667 MW under a specific schedule that is enforceable. The settlement also calls for Duke Energy to demonstrate best practices to decrease emissions during malfunction, shut down and start up situations.
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