Progress Energy says it will officially close one of its coal-fired power plants on Saturday here in Eastern Carolina.
The Lee Power Plant near Goldsboro has been in operation since 1951.
Progress says the closing is part of the company's modernization program, which will help reduce air emissions and water usage. Lee is the second such retirement for Progress, which is now a subsidiary of Duke Energy.
A new, 920-megawatt natural gas-fueled plant is being built on the Lee plant property and should be in operation early next year.
Of the 79 employees at Lee, 65 will move to jobs at the new plant or at similar positions in the company, while 14 are retiring.
Progress says it plans to close all of its coal-fired plants by the end of next year that do not have advanced environmental controls.
