First Energy Corp. said on Monday that it is looking to buy solar energy credits to offset power it produces in Ohio.
The credits are designed to offset pollution.
FirstEnergy said it is seeking proposals for 10-year contracts for Solar Renewable Energy Credits for customers of its utilities in Ohio — Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating, and Toledo Edison. The credits are needed under an Ohio energy law.
Full bids are due March 6.
The company has been adjusting its operations to get ready for new environmental regulations. That includes plans announced Thursday to shut down six coal-fired power plants in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland by Sept. 1 because it would have been too expensive to bring them into compliance with new federal Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
FirstEnergy has 6 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia. It gets about 80 percent of its output from coal and nuclear power plants.
Shares of FirstEnergy fell 11 cents to close at $42.15.