Solobay, Snyder Question Power Plant Shutdowns

State Sen. Tim Solobay and state Rep. Pam Snyder on Tuesday blamed overreaching federal regulators for forcing the closure of two southwestern Pennsylvania power plants and the loss of up to 380 local jobs.

“The federal government is costing real people real jobs by pushing ahead with theoretical power-plant standards,” Solobay, D-Canonsburg, said. “Forcing the closure of reliable power plants will drive up the price of electricity for consumers and do little to improve the environment.”

FirstEnergy Corp. announced today its intention to close their Hatfield's Ferry Power Station in Masontown, Fayette County, and Mitchell Power Station in Union Township, Washington County, citing the cost of complying with new federal regulations.

“I understand the economics behind the decision to close the plants,” Snyder said. “What I question are the regulatory policies that fail to atone for the damaging effects it has on the economic survival of regions that have given their life bloods to power the nation.” 

In a statement, the company said the two plants scheduled for closure in the fall produce 10 percent of the company’s energy, but would have required 30 percent of the company’s estimated $925 million cost of compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards.

FirstEnergy said the plant closings, scheduled for early October, will affect 380 employees. 

The FirstEnergy decision to “deactivate” the plants hinge on a reliability review by PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission operator. FirstEnergy said the plants produce 2,080 megawatts, or about 10 percent of the company’s generating capacity.

A state Public Utility Commission’s Summer Reliability report, issued today, said PJM expects to serve peak loads, even as weather conditions are expected to produce higher demands than last summer.

“I will never accept the reasoning that a low-cost, abundant resource like coal does not have a cornerstone in our energy foundation,” Snyder said. “The coal and power industry has made great strides addressing environmental concerns, and ‘clean coal’ technologies have never been given more than lip service.”

Solobay and Snyder said they will work with the state Department of Labor and Industry’s Rapid Response team to work with displaced workers seeking new employment.

“For years, public officials in this region have asked federal regulators to consider the economic impact of their overreaching new regulations,” Solobay said. “The benefit to the air quality in the northeast United States is questionable, but the affect on families in southwestern Pennsylvania is real. It is not a balanced approach.”