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Progress Energy Gets OK To Buy Power

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By RUSSELL RAY

rray@tampatrib.com

Published: February 12, 2009

In a few years, the trash you see at landfills will be used to generate environmentally friendly electricity for thousands of Progress Energy customers in Florida.

On Tuesday, state regulators approved Progress Energy's plan to buy up to 60 megawatts of power from a power plant that will produce electricity by burning rubber tires, plastic, paper and other household waste.

The waste will be converted to clean-burning gas used to generate the power.

The process produces "almost no greenhouse gas emissions," according to Horizon Energy Group, the Tennessee-based company that will build and operate the plant.

The company has not identified a site for construction, but it expects to begin commercial production by January 2013. Progress Energy has agreed to buy power from the plant for 25 years.

The $100 million plant will generate enough electricity for nearly 40,000 Florida homes.

"Diverting waste from landfills to generate electricity provides a viable, cost-effective renewable source of electricity," said Matthew Carter II, chairman of the Florida Public Service Commission.
Progress Energy is Central Florida's largest power provider, serving nearly 1.7 million customers.

Reporter Russell Ray can be reached at (813) 259-7870.

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