By Editors of Power Engineering

The Marquette Board of Light and Power officially shut down the 44-MW, coal-fired Shiras Steam Plant, though the board plans to preserve the facility for now.

The board plans to rely on the 54-MW natural gas-fired Marquette Energy Center as well as outside power purchases to replace Shiras’ capacity, the Mining Journal reported.

A Burns and McDonnell analysis indicated the board would lower costs by $100 million over the next 20 years by shutting down Shiras. Board members approved the shutdown unanimously, with board Chairman Tom Tourville saying the option had been discussed for months.