TucsonWeekly
Tucson Electric Power announced Thursday it had ended the use of coal at its largest local power plant. The utility company will now primarily rely on natural gas, a press release says.
Per requests from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, TEP had until December 2017 to make the move, so they’re proud to be two years ahead of schedule. They hope the transition will help Pima County comply with stricter ozone standards, which are taking effect later this year. Also, reduction of carbon dioxide emissions at the power plant comply with the new Clean Power Plan rules, set to begin early into 2022. (The Clean Power Plan proposes cutting carbon emissions nationally by one-third.Arizona has to cut emissions by about one-half through 2030.)
