Dive Brief:
- Federal officials and Alabama Power have reached an agreement to reduce emissions from the company’s coal-fired fleet of plants in Alabama, including shutter three units and converting four more to natural gas.
- The agreement calls for Alabama Power to spend $1.5 million on electric vehicle charging infrastructure, reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, and to pay a $100,000 penalty.
- The deal, filed with a federal court in Alabama, builds on a previous consent decree between the utility and federal officials that was reached in 2006 and would end nearly a decade and a half of legal action.
Dive Insight:
If the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama accepts the deal, federal regulators, law enforcement and Alabama power can put to rest a case that dates back to 1999, alleging violations of the Clean Air Act’s New Source Review program. The utility maintains it never violated the CAA.
"We continue to believe that our company has always met or done better than the standards set by the federal government to protect the environment," Alabama Power spokesman Michael Sznajderman told AL.com. "Nevertheless we are happy to close this case while preserving generating units that are vital to serving the needs of our customers."
Under terms of the agreement, the utility will reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide from three of the company’s coal-fired power plants using pollution control devices; convert four units from the use of coal to natural gas; and retire three other units. Among other requirements, EPA said the company must meet specified emission rates.
Other requirements call for Alabama Power to pay a $100,000 penalty and spend at least $1.5 million on providing electrical charging infrastructure for electric airport service vehicles and passenger cars.
“This action secures reductions of harmful air pollution at Alabama Power Company’s coal-fired power plants across the state,” Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, said in a statement. “This is important progress toward our commitment to cut emissions from the largest sources, and means cleaner air and improved public health for communities across Alabama.”