The utility will invest about $150m to do the conversions, with commercial operations using biomass targeted to begin in early 2013. The fuel switch would cut emissions of mercury, nitrous oxide,sulfur dioxide and particulate emissions, and all of the plants would meet stringent new emissions standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Each of the three plants can now produce 63MW of electricity at peak output when demand is highest, but normally operate at less capacity.
