Progress decides it can't leave plants in the coal.

• Position: Eastern

Rather than spend about $2 billion to retrofit them to meet tougher environmental standards, Progress Energy Inc. will shut down 11 coal-fired generators at four power plants within eight years. Nine are in Eastern North Carolina--three each in Wilmington, Lumberton and Goldsboro--and two are in Chatham County. The Raleigh-based utility will pay about $1.5 billion to build gas-fired plants in Wilmington and Goldsboro. About 260 work at the four plants. "As many as...