The coal-fired Cockenzie power station is to close its by March next year, ScottishPower announced today.
The 44-year-old station, an East Lothian landmark, is being shut because it does not meet environmental legislation.
The energy giant said that "every effort" would be made to find positions elsewhere in the company for the 100 staff.
It said that where this was not not possible severance arrangements would be put in place, which it hopes can be arranged voluntarily.
The Scottish Government last year granted planning permission for a new gas plant at Cockenzie.
ScottishPower said it is continuing to evaluate options for the development of the site.
Neil Clitheroe, chief executive of ScottishPower Generation Holdings, said: "For over 40 years, the skills and experience of the team at Cockenzie has ensured that the station operated in a flexible and reliable manner.
"Their hard work and dedication throughout these years has enabled the station to operate for more than 20 years beyond its design life.
"We will be working very closely with all employees at Cockenzie in the coming months and we are hopeful that alternative employment can be offered to all staff who wish to stay within the company."
WWF Scotland director Dr Richard Dixon said: "The end of coal-burning at Cockenzie marks another major milestone in Scotland's journey to becoming a zero-carbon economy.
"By the time the power station shuts its doors for the final time next year, renewables will be the biggest source of electricity for Scottish consumers.
"Research for WWF shows that we could be using only renewables and exporting almost as much as we use at home by 2030."
Cockenzie power station opted out of the Large Combustion Plant Directive in January 2008 and, as a consequence, was required to close by December 2015 or after it had operated for 20,000 hours.
ScottishPower said that the remaining operational hours permitted under European Law are expected to expire by the end of March 2013.
The station, which was switched on in 1967, will close on March 31 next year.
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