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On Sept. 10, 2007, with a 2-1 vote, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission denied the pre-approval permit for the plant, arguing that the utilities had not proven that they had sufficiently explored alternative forms of energy.<ref>[http://www.aep.com/newsroom/newsreleases/default.asp?dbcommand=DisplayRelease&ID=1396 OCC Denies Application for Red Rock Plant], AEP corporate website, September 10, 2007.</ref> Oklahoma State Treasurer Scott Meacham also appeared in newspaper advertisements critical of the project.<ref>[http://www.coalcontrol.com/2007/09/06/ok-state-treasurer-comments/ "State Treasurer Chimes In On Oklahoma Red Rock Proposal"], CoalControl blog, September 6, 2007.</ref> On Oct. 11, the sponsors announced that they were discontinuing the project.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSWNAS613520071011 “OG&E Says Unit Ends Plan to Build Oklahoma Power Plant"], Reuters, October 11, 2007.</ref>
==Clean Air Act Regulations==
As of December 2009 OG&E is fighting the construction of mandated pollution controls at two of its coal plants. As required by 1992’s federal [[Clean Air Act]], states must reduce sulfurous emissions that hamper visibility, such as OG&E plants contributing to the "regional haze” at Oklahoma's Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuges. Lessening the haze would require the construction of [[scrubbers]] at the OG&E plants. However, OG&E has argued that the scrubbers would be very expensive, and has proposed a cheaper alternative, but it has been rejected for not meeting [[EPA]] regulations. OG&E has said they will reach the desired emission level by 2026 by switching to natural gas, instead of coal, to generate the majority of its electricity, and that installing scrubbers will only encourage the continued use of coal plants.<ref>Jay Marks,[http://newsok.com/oklahoma-electricity-regulation-causes-debate-for-some/article/3425355?custom_click=lead_story_title#ixzz0ZreWoI4o "Oklahoma electricity regulation causes debate for some"] NewsOk, December 16, 2009</ref>
==Articles and Resources==
