COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A new program being tested in Ohio and two other states would allow farmers who cut polluted storm water runoff to sell the reductions to power companies as credits to help them meet government requirement.

The Columbus Dispatch (http://bit.ly/NAziqh ) reports the Electric Power Research Institute came up with the idea and helped persuade state and federal officials to support it.

The "water quality trading" test program was recently announced by environmental regulators in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

Officials with the Electric Power Research Institute say installing and operating pollution-treatment systems at power plants would be much more expensive.

Some environmental advocates say buying and selling credits is fine, as long as it reduces water pollution.

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Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com