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Coal plant's operator: No purchase offer from Navajo Nation

GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — The operator of a northern Arizona power plant located on the Navajo Nation says the tribe has not offered to buy the coal-fired plant as efforts continue to keep it from shutting down and shedding hundreds of jobs. The Gallup Independent (https://goo.gl/RZlBna ) reports that Salt River Project spokesman Scott Harelson says the tribe didn't make an offer for the 2,250-megawatt plant which SRP and other owners plan to decommission if another entity doesn't buy it. The owners gave the tribe until Oct. 1 to identify potential qualified purchasers, and top tribal officials said Wednesday they met the deadline. Peabody Energy supplies the plant, and a company spokesman said Monday that private equity firms and power plant operators were interested. The plant's owners plan to use cheaper natural gas instead.