Utility unveils emission-reducing work at Gorgas plant

GORGAS, ALABAMA - Alabama Power has installed more than $60 million in improvements to reduce emissions from a Walker County plant. <br> <br> The utility said Monday the improvements at Plant Gorgas were part of a $500 million plan to reduce the release of nitrogen oxide from its generating facilities. <br> <br> The improvements are expected to reduce emissions from the plant by more than 40 percent from the same time last year. <br> <br> The second phase of the plan is under construction at the company&#39;s Plant Miller in Jefferson County. Completion is expected in less than a year. The third phase, also at the Miller plant, is expected to be completed in spring 2005. <br> <br> Improvements are scheduled for Plant Barry in Mobile County in 2006 and environmental improvements are being made at other generating units of Alabama Power, a subsidiary of the Southern Company in Atlanta. <br> <br> A report released this spring by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a coalition of health activist groups, describes Alabama Power as the state&#39;s worst polluter.