By KRWG News
New Mexico – ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRWG) A subsidiary of Xcel Energy Inc. has reached an $800,000 settlement with the New Mexico Environment Department over alleged air quality violations at a natural gas-fired power plant in southeastern New Mexico.
The settlement is one of the largest reached by the department this year.
It stems from an administrative order issued last year against Southwestern Public Service Co.'s Cunningham Power Plant in Hobbs. The order alleged thousands of instances of excessive nitrogen oxide emissions between 2005 and 2009. The utility disputed the order.
As part of the settlement, the utility will pay a $300,000 civil penalty within 30 days.
Southwestern Public Service Co. must also complete a $500,000 supplemental environmental project within 180 days. The project will include a solar photovoltaic array at Eastern New Mexico University in Roswell.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. KRWG