The power plant started commercial operation in 1949, and two more coal-fired units were added in the 1950s, bringing the facility’s total coal generating capacity to 177MW.
Four peaking units at the site, fueled by natural gas and oil, were added in the 1970s and will continue to operate to meet customer demand for electricity.
In 2009, Progress Energy unveiled a plan to shut down 11 coal-burning units at four sites in North Carolina.
The retirements, representing about 1,500MW of capacity, or 30% of the company’s coal generating fleet in North Carolina, are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013.
