Progress Energy to Convert Plant to 100% Natural Gas

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) _ Progress Energy Florida says it is converting one of its Tampa Bay-area power plants to 100-percent natural gas.

The company said Thursday that converting the Anclote Power Plant in Holiday to natural gas will reduce emissions and allow compliance with new federal standards.

The Pasco County plant currently uses oil and natural gas.

The conversion will eliminate most of the metals and sulfur dioxide that are now emitted from its two steam units.

The $79 million project is expected to be finished by late 2013.

It’s also expected to lower the cost to electricity customers by about $268 million over five years.

Progress Energy Florida serves more than 1.6 million power customers in the state.