Greenpeace placed a banner on a power plant smokestack that reads, "Duke Energy, the climate needs real progress." (Feb. 13, 2012/FOX Carolina)ASHEVILLE, NC (FOX Carolina) -
Sixteen activists with the environmental group Greenpeace pleaded guilty to trespassing Monday in connection with a protest at a Progress Energy plant in February.
On Feb. 13, the group scaled a smokestack and other equipment at the utility company's coal power plant near Asheville. They hung banners calling on the company to use green energy methods.
SLIDESHOWS: Greenpeace protests at power plant | 16 protesters arrested
Progress Energy tweeted about the protests that day, saying protestors attached themselves to plant equipment, including the smokestacks.
Greenpeace said the protesters will pay restitution to the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office.
A judge dismissed charges of breaking and entering against the five activists who scaled the smokestack, Greenpeace said.
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