N.M. community braces for changes to coal-fired plant

Plans to shutter part of one of the nation’s largest coal-fired power plants have been hailed by the conservation community and New Mexico regulators as a victory that will lead to cleaner air for northwestern New Mexico, the Navajo Nation and three neighboring states. The problem is that environmental victory comes with economic costs, community leaders say. “The impact on our community is tremendous, all the way from the gross-receipts taxes that we won’t be collecting to the lost jobs,” said Farmington City Councilor Jason Sandel. Arizona’s largest utility company announced plans last week to close part of the Four Corners Power Plant and seek majority ownership of the plant’s remaining two generating units from Southern California Edison. The decision is being driven by new federal proposals aimed at cracking down on emissions and California laws prohibiting utilities from investing in most coal-fired power plants. It’s a scenario that’s playing out across the country as environmentalists take aim against polluting plants with lawsuits and the federal government and states look to pass more forceful regulations for curbing greenhouse-gas emissions and other pollutants being pumped out by coal-fired power plants...more