Progress Energy says goodbye coal, hello natural gas

Progress Energy’s plan to go green will bring new jobs to Wilmington.

Progress Energy plans to retire its coal-fired units and replace them with structures fueled by natural gas. The company filed plans Friday for $600-million dollar project.

Not only will the construction project bring jobs to the Wilmington area, Progress Energy says the natural gas facility will help keep energy prices low, and eliminate coal and ash emissions. The switch from coal to natural gas is expected to be complete by 2014.