Reuters reported that US utility Duke Energy expects to retire all the six coal fired generation units at its WC Beckjord Station near Cincinnati by January 1 2015 due to a proposed Environmental Protection Agency rule.

Under the recently proposed Utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology rule which will be finalized in November, coal fired plants would require reducing emissions of particular toxic air pollutants.

The company said it plans to meet demand by buying electricity on the competitive wholesale market or by constructing or acquiring natural gas fired combined cycle generating assets.

The company said the 120 Duke personnel at the Beckjord Station might be offered employment at other Duke Energy plants.

(Sourced from Reuters)