PNM Resources has shuttered two of four coal-fired units at its San Juan Generating Station in New Mexico in order to comply with federal visibility regulations, Kallanish Energy reports.
The company’s Public Service Co. of New Mexico, New Mexico’s largest utility, made the announcement Wednesday.
The retirement of two of four units at the plant near Farmington is part of an agreement by the company and state and federal agencies to comply with haze provisions of the federal Clean Air Act.
The agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the units must be completely out of service by Dec. 31.
Retiring the two units will reduce the plant’s emissions, including carbon dioxide and its use of coal and water by about 50%, the company said.
With the closures, the plant will produce about 836 fewer megawatts of electricity.
The other two units are scheduled to close in 2022.
“This agreement is the result of a strong collaboration among many parties, each of whom worked to find a solution in the best interest of New Mexicans,” said PNM Resources’ president, chairman and CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn, in a statement.
The company, with headquarters in Albuquerque, N.M., said it will rely on increased renewable energy, existing nuclear power and natural gas-fired power.
The company said no layoffs of workers are expected with the closures.
