Coal Plant Units to Close at Alma

One less coal plant on the Mississippi river in the near future.  Dairyland Power says it will indefinitely suspend operations at its two remaining coal-fired units at Alma by early 2015.  The first three units went offline in 2011.  Units four and five fired up in the late fifties and early sixties.  Dairyland cites several factors in its decision to close up shop in Alma, including age of the facilities, maintenance costs and regulations.  Dairyland says some employees will be offered early retirement while others will be moved into other positions in the power co-op.