APOLLO BEACH, Fla. -- After 50 years in operation, TECO Energy is modernizing the Apollo Beach power plant. The energy company stated it is all in an effort to make it cleaner, and greener.

TECO stated it wants to reduce plant's carbon footprint

TECO says customers will save money due to changes

TECO just announced that it would be switching the Apollo Beach power plant from primarily coal burning to natural gas. The plan is to repower the Unit 1 chimneystack at the Big Bend plant with state of the art technology that burns natural gas.

TECO officials say they have made a commitment to reduce the plant's carbon footprint.

In recent years, TECO retired one of the four chimneystacks at the Apollo Beach plant, and as part of the current project will retire a second stack next year.

Ultimately, TECO says customers will save money thanks to these upgrades.

"This is an $853-million project, and it is a win-win for our customers, and for the environment. The construction will start next year, and this won't affect customer bills until the project is complete if, and when, we do seek a rate increase. In the long run this modernization will actually save our customers money because it is a cheaper option than continuing to run those units as they are today," said Cherie Jacobs, a TECO spokesperson.

Residents will start seeing changes at the plant in Spring 2019.