Fates of Three Old FirstEnergy Coal Plants in WV Still Uncertain
The State Journal
26 January 2012
By Pam Kasey
Update Jan. 26: FirstEnergy is still deciding whether to close the
Albright, Rivesville and Willow Island plants in West Virginia.
"We will continue to analyze these plants to determine how best to
comply with the new environmental rules," said FirstEnergy
spokesman Mark Durbin. "We should complete that analysis in the
next few weeks. We will communicate our conclusions immediately
and implement an integrated schedule for all affected units."
FirstEnergy will close six coal-fired power plants by Sept. 1
because of environmental regulations, but none are in West
Virginia.
On Jan. 26, FirstEnergy said it will close plants at Ashtabula,
Cleveland, Eastlake and Oregon, Ohio; Adrian, Pa.; and
Williamsport, Md.
The plants represent about 2,700 megawatts of nameplate capacity.
Although FirstEnergy said the plants generated about 10 percent of
the electricity produced by the utility over the past three years,
the Ohio units have been on much-reduced operating status since
September 2010.
The company said its decision would directly affect 529 employees.
Some might transfer to other FirstEnergy facilities and work
sites, and others have the opportunity to take advantage of a
retirement benefit offered to employees 55 years and older.
"This decision is not in any way a reflection of the fine work
done by the employees at the affected plants, but is related to
the impact of new environmental rules," said FirstEnergy President
James Lash in the media release.
He indicated that a review of the company's coal-fired plants
determined it would not be cost-effective to get the older ones
into compliance with environmental regulations the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency announced in December.
The announcement leaves open the utility company's West Virginia
coal-fired plants at Albright, Rivesville and Willow Island, which
have similar ages, sizes and emissions profiles to the plants
slated for closure. A FirstEnergy spokesman did not respond when
asked if they are being considered for a later closure
announcement.