"Alexandria's controversial coal-burning power plant, once considered one of the largest single sources of air pollution in the Washington area, will probably close by October 2012, its owner and the city announced Tuesday.

The surprise announcement culminates a 12-year battle to close the six-decade-old Potomac River plant, which local activists and environmentalists blame for causing or contributing to dozens of cases of serious illness each year.

A spokeswoman for GenOn, the owner of the plant, said the plant has complied with environmental regulations and called the planned closing a "good business decision but a difficult one" because its 120 jobs will vanish."

Patricia Sullivan and Tom Jackman report for the Washington Post August 30, 2011. [2]