East Texas Coal Plant, Once a Big Polluter, Snuffed Out by Cheap Natural Gas

One of Texas' largest coal plants is shutting down, a victim of plentiful and cheap natural gas, plant-owner Luminant announced today.The Monticello Power Plant near Mount Pleasant, about 115 miles east of Dallas, is expected to close in January after ERCOT, which manages Texas' electric grid, signs off on the decision.The Monticello plant, once seen as a key source of smog-causing pollution, has an operating capacity of 1,880 MW -- enough to power about 940,000 homes in normal conditions and 376,000 homes in periods of peak demand. It employs about 200 workers.  Continue reading...