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N.D. (AP) — Officials with a North Dakota electric power cooperative say the group’s Stanton power plant will shut down within the next 12 months.

Great River Energy officials say the plant is too costly to operate because of low prices in the regional energy market. The plant has the capacity to burn 800,000 tons of coal a year at full load.

The plant in Mercer County has 65 employees. Great River Energy president and CEO David Saggau says the company is working to “minimize impacts” on employees and the community.

The Stanton plant began generating power in 1966. It supplies energy to 28 rural utility cooperatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Great River Energy continues to operate the Coal Creek station, northeast of Stanton, and the Spiritwood station, near Jamestown.