Dive Brief:

• Tucson Electric Power (TEP) has agreed with the Environmental Protection Agency to convert a 156-MW coal-fired unit near Tucson to burn natural gas.
• Switching the unit to burn gas is less expensive than adding pollution controls to the Sundt power plant unit. The other units at the plant burn gas.
• The Sierra Club supports the move, but would like the utility to add even more renewables to its fuel mix.

Dive Insight:

The move is part of TEP's plan to reduce its use of coal-fired generation. The utility is buying natural gas-fired generation while exiting the coal-fired San Juan power plant in New Mexico.

Utilities are taking steps like this around the U.S. with older, smaller coal-fired units. It's part of the country's shifting generation mix.