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Pollution Regs Force Power Plant Closings


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An Associated Press survey finds new federal air pollution regulations will force more than 32 mostly coal-fired power plants in a dozen states to shut down, including units at four Ohio plants.

One of the four is the Muskingum River Plant in Washington County.

An additional 36 might have to close, including at least one unit at six Ohio plants.

The RE Burger Plant in Belmont County is one of those.

The affected plants nationwide are some of the oldest and dirtiest in the country and produce enough electricity for more than 22 million households. But losing them probably won't cause homes to go dark.

The fallout will be most severe for the towns where power plant smokestacks long have cast a shadow. Tax revenues and jobs will be lost, and investments in new power plants and pollution controls probably will raise electric bills.