LITTLE ROCK — A New York City-based energy company has canceled plans to build a coal-fired power plant in northeastern Arkansas, environmental groups announced Monday.
LS Power Group LLC dropped Plum Point II, which was to be built near Osceola, and Longleaf Energy Station, which was planned for Georgia, as part of a legal agreement with the Sierra Club.
The nationwide agreement also imposes strict new limits on air emissions from the new Sandy Creek coal-fired power plant in Texas.
“Canceling Plum Point II will keep almost four million tons of carbon dioxide out of our air each year, along with dozens of other hazardous air pollutants,” said Glen Hooks of Little Rock, senior campaign representative for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. “Keeping more dirty coal out of Arkansas is a huge step forward for our state.”
LS Power’s decision not to move forward with the two plants marks the 160th and 161st proposed coal plants canceled by the Sierra Club since its campaign opposing the construction of new coal plants began in 2005.
Officials with LS Power did not immediately return a telephone call for comment Monday.