A number of permit violations in two Clermont County Cinergy power generating plants will result in the strengthening of environmental efforts in the state of Ohio. According to a press release from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Beckjord and Zimmer generating plants were each cited for a number of emissions violations over a period of years, resulting in a fine of $53,200 that will mostly go to pollution control programs in the Ohio Environmental Education Fund and the Ohio EPA Clean Diesel School Bus Program Fund.
Kathy Meinke, a spokesperson for Cinergy, said that the fines represented gas emissions at one plant and particulate matter at another. The excessive emissions were stopped by maintenance at both plants, which have been operating within their prescribed levels since.