CENTRALIA, Wash. (AP) — Canada-based TransAlta says it plans to build a new natural gas facility in Lewis County, Wash., as it prepares to shut down the Northwest’s largest coal-fired power plant.
The company will gradually close its Centralia facility by 2025, as part of legislation negotiated by TransAlta, Washington state officials, lawmakers and environmentalists.
Gov. Chris Gregoire plans to sign Senate Bill 5769 into law on Friday. Proponents say closing the state’s largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions will improve public health and help the state meet its climate change goals.
The legislation calls for TransAlta to provide $55 million in economic assistance and to install new pollution controls at the plant.
TransAlta spokeswoman Angela Mallow says the company would get expedited permitting to build a natural gas facility to come online by 2020.
