A survey conducted by The Associated Press (AP), based on interviews with 55 power plant operators and on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) prediction of power plant retirements, estimates that more than 32 mostly coal-fired power plants in a dozen states will be need to be shut down and an additional 36 might have to close because of new federal emissions control regulations.

The AP survey found that the Air Toxics Rule and the Cross State Air Pollution Rule could result in more than 8 percent of the coal-fired generation nationwide being retired. The average age of the plants that could be abandoned is 51 years.

The estimate also was based in part on EPA computer models that estimate which fossil-fuel generating units are likely to be retired early to comply with the rules, and which were likely to be closured anyway.

Click here to see a table displaying plants that are set to retire or may retire.

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