Changes

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> The Sierra Club also backs the company's complaint stating that installing scrubbers at an estimated cost of $1 billion may delay the company's transition from coal to natural gas. The scrubbers would reduce sulfurous emissions that contribute to regional haze, however the scrubbers would not reduce carbon dioxide emissions.<ref>[http://newsok.com/oklahoma-electricity-regulation-causes-debate-for-some/article/3425355?custom_click=lead_story_title#ixzz0ZqaY7OFh Oklahoma electricity regulation causes debate for some], Jay F. Marks, NewsOK.com, accessed December 16, 2009.</ref>