(ASHEVILLE) -- A number of protesters from GreenPeace were removed Monday afternoon from a smokestack at an Asheville area power plant operated by Progress Energy. The group is protesting the use of coal to create energy.

GreenPeace spokeswoman Keiller MacDuff said the actions on Monday were somewhat extreme but intended to make a point.  "We're going to be launching an official campaign trying to get Duke Energy to hear the voices of the community here in Asheville and around the country who really want to see renewable energy, who are tired of the pollution from coal," said MacDuff.

None of the protesters were hurt.   They were expected to be released on their own recognizance.

Even though Progress Energy operates the plant, GreenPeace is focusing on Duke Energy because of the proposed merger of the two companies.  If the merger goes through, Duke and Progress would combine under the Duke Energy name.

A Progress Energy spokesman said their main concern on Monday was to remove the protesters safely. None of the protesters were hurt while scaling the tall smokestack or being removed from it.