Power plant closures to cost US towns jobs, taxes

By VICKI SMITH and LARRY O'DELL

An Associated Press analysis has found more than 32 mostly coal-fired power plants in a dozen states will be forced to close -- and others are at risk -- because of new federal air pollution regulations taking effect in 2014-2015.

And the impact is greatest in the Midwest and coal belt states such as Virginia and West Virginia, where dozens of units are likely to shut down.

Take the coal-fired plant in Glen Lyn, Va., operating for more than 90 years. It has generated nearly a quarter of the revenue in the town's $1 million budget and 44 jobs will be lost.

The Environmental Protection Agency has estimated 14.7 gigawatts -- enough power for more than 11 million households -- will be retired under new rules though no lights will go dark.