An Atlanta-based power company must pay $225,000 in fines and reduce emissions at its three Maryland coal-, gas- and oil-fired power plants, according to a court settlement, Maryland officials said Wednesday.
Mirant Energy, which operates plants in Prince George’s, Montgomery and Charles counties, has been violating air pollution standards for sulfur and particulate matter, Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler said.
Mirant agreed to pay a $175,000 civil penalty and donate $75,000 to Prince George’s County to retrofit the county’s school buses so they emit fewer pollutants. It will also have to reduce its emissions by 30 percent by July 1, 2009.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee announced Wednesday that it will be closely monitoring emissions from Mirant’s power plant in Alexandria in light of a years-long battle over emissions.
In 2005, the Alexandria power plant was closed for several months before federal officials ordered it restarted since it was deemed crucial backup for the local power grid.
Upgrades to all of the Maryland power plants willhave to be made in light of the settlement, which “will improve air quality for the region,” a Mirant spokeswoman said in a statement.
fklopott@dcexaminer. com
