FirstEnergy Corp., an Ohio-based utility company, announced on Thursday, January 27 that it will be shutting down three Lake Erie coal-fired plants, reports the Chicago Tribune.
The power company faced the more stringent pollution limits set by the Federal Clean Air Act. FirstEnergy Corp. announced that it will be closing the plants instead of upgrading due to cost.
The Obama administration has begun to penalize and require plants that produce lung- and heart-damaging pollution under court order, according to the Miami Herald. While the plants may be closing this year, toxic air pollutants can remain in a region for an extended time period. To increase air quality and ensure that these toxins don't cause lasting health concerns, individuals can invest in medical-grade home air purifiers such as the IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier.
Closing the plants is expected to improve the local fishing economy. According to the Chicago Tribune, the Bay Shore plant near Toledo, Ohio killed more than 46 million adult fish, as well as 2.4 billion eggs, larvae and young fish every year.
Those who support the measure believe the closings will benefit regional air quality and provide a boost to the fishing industry, which is necessary for creating more jobs.