We had more snow when I was a kid. But three West Virginia coal-fired power plants owned by Ohio-based American Electric Power may be on borrowed time. racist or sexually-oriented language. Great place to work. John E. Amos Power Plant is a three-unit coal-fired power plant owned and operated by Appalachian Power. Based on already planned and announced retirements, less than half of the U.S. coal-fired power generation capacity that existed at the start of 2015 will remain online by 2035, a new S&P Global Market Intelligence analysis shows. The EPA argues in legal documents that Congress gave it sweeping discretion under the Clean Air Act to determine the best system of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to protect human health, and officials said this month that they are poised to release strict new limits on power plant pollution as soon as the Supreme Court rules. We are required to have a certain level of capacityin other words, we must be ready to provide our customers a certain amount of power at any given time. The SCC on Monday approved a $27.44 million Virginia revenue requirement for the first year of an environmental rate adjustment clause (E-RAC)a rider that recovers expenses from AEPs Virginia customers associated with federal rules regulating the disposal of coal ash at the two plants in West Virginia. Union boilermaker Ricky Brookver, 41, of Charleston, West Virginia, works overnight at John Amos Power Plant making facility upgrades to comply with the latest EPA regulations. Close. AEP shut down the Conesville Plant in Coshocton, A 2018 investigation by the Ohio Valley ReSource and partner station WFPL. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Thats what were seeing. In 2007 alone, AEP completed installation of advanced emissions control . The organization supports technologies like carbon capture and storage, even though it may take time before that is developed and deployed at a larger scale. Post completion of construction, the project got commissioned in September 1971. "Our people want to have clean air. It's one of 174 coal-fired plants nationwide that could be impacted by the Supreme Court's decision. Regulations drove some retirements, such as a wave of 2015 closures related to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Mercury and Air Toxics rule. It was named after a Democratic National Committeeman from West Virginia. The company, like other U.S. coal generators, is grappling with refining cost estimates of complying with environmental rules against a number of factors. The Congressional Budget Office estimates a $25 a ton carbon tax, indexed to inflation, could raise $1 trillion over a decade. AEP has committed to reducing its carbon dioxide emissions and obtaining more of its power from renewable resources while also divesting itself of much of its coal-powered generating fleet. The John Amos Plant has a nameplate rating of 2,933 MW, making it the largest generating plant in the AEP system. Workers at Appalachian Power's John E. Amos Power Plant near Winfield have found a . The 1,300-MW Mountaineer Power Plant outside New Haven in Mason County, West Virginia, was completed in 1980. They're not very efficient at turning coal into power, Holladay said, and new, more efficient technologies coming down the grid and kind of eating their lunch.. Both have another 20 years of service, more or less. Thats a risky investment considering the deteriorating economics of coal, said James Van Nostrand, who teaches law at West Virginia University and directs its Center for Energy and Sustainable Development. The model predicts one of Mitchells two units would close in two years, and the other in three. Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don't miss out on updates. Dane Rhys/Bloomberg/Getty Images. You have permission to edit this article. /marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/slated-retirements-to-cut-us-coal-fleet-to-less-than-half-2015-capacity-by-2035-65741012 In the meantime, the organization calls for reforms to power markets that would support coal through mechanisms such as crediting plants for reliability and resilience. But one of the reports authors predicts they wont last to the end of this decade. A couple of large coal-fired power plants in this area could be retired ahead of schedule. Plans include retrofitting economizer ash handling systems on Amos 1 and 2 and installing a new FGD biological treatment system with ultrafiltration. "I grew up in coal country. When AEP has built new fossil fuel-powered plants in recent years, they have been gas burners. Appalachian Power is a subsidiary of American Electric Power, which is based in Columbus, Ohio. The John Amos power plant in Putnam County, West Virginia. The John E. Amos Power Plant near Winfield, West Virginia, is being studied for early retirement, along with the Mountaineer Power Plant near New Haven, West Virginia. - February 4, 2022. In that report, the examiner recommended that the SCC should approve only recovery of CCR-related costs. The state's largest coal-fired power facility -- the John Amos plant in Winfield, West Virginia -- sits 40 miles west of Clendenin along the Kanawha River. Curtis Tate/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power did not prudently manage their coal supplies in 2021 and 2022, leading to shortages of fuel and higher electricity costs, a consulting group has concluded. Neither is old for a coal-fired power plant, with Amos having begun service in 1971 and Mountaineer in 1980. AEP and other power plant operators are retiring coal-fired plants in the region. The Mitchell Plant in Moundsville, the Mountaineer Plant in New Haven, and the John Amos Plant in Winfield require costly upgrades to comply with new federal environmental rules. The demand for electricity is flat, even factoring in the pandemic. We need to keep that plant open, Del. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is leading a group of 18 states suing the Biden administration over the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. The state relies on coal to fuel them almost more than any other state. "We are absolutely certain that there's going to be a considerable number of more retirements for this decade," Feaster said. Amos and Mountaineer are valuable to customers as capacity resources, Appalachian Power spokesperson Jeri Matheney explained to POWER on Aug. 25. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Plans include retrofitting economizer ash handling systems on Amos 1 and 2 and installing a new FGD biological treatment system with ultrafiltration. For FGD wastewater, the 2020 rule established numeric BAT effluent limitations on mercury, arsenic, selenium, and nitrate/nitrite. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), AEP subsidiaries Wheeling Power and Appalachian Power have asked. According to Appalachian Powers testimony, the Virginia jurisdictional share of the ELG investments would be about $60 million. The West Virginia Public Service Commission on Wednesday gave its approval for upgrades to the John Amos, Mountaineer and Mitchell coal-fired power plants - a move it said should keep the plants . The SCCs order is a new setback for Appalachian Power, which has said cost recovery of CCR and ELG retrofits at the plants would allow their generating units to provide crucially needed capacity and energy value to the utilitys customers in Virginia and West Virginia through 2040. Both states commissions will consider AEPs proposal later this month. power station. We will take into consideration the three commission orders and the many impacts of all possible options. This power plant, where we are standing here today, isliving proof that energy belongs to all of us, regardless of party labels. Its just its the money would be so much better spent on going down a clean energy path that would produce more jobs and put more money in the pockets of ratepayers, he said. Coal ash disposal sites around the region pose environmental and health risks. "If we were to max out every available roof space in this state and all the usable land, we may be able to reach 30 percent of powering the grid -- maybe," she said. Appalachian Power, the AEP subsidiary that owns the two plants. Choose wisely! Appalachian Power spokesperson Matheney on Wednesday reiterated this point, underscoring the tight timeframe in which new replacement capacity will be needed if Amos and Mountaineer were retried earlier than planned. West Virginia is challenging EPA efforts to blunt the impact of climate change. person will not be tolerated. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Matt Bevin and former President Donald Trump. Appalachian Power is a subsidiary of American Electric Power, which is based in Columbus, Ohio. Theres also the delicate matter of what happens to the communities that depend on the plants for jobs and tax revenue, as well as the coal mines that supply them. In its written testimony, AEP says the upgrades are economically justified for the Amos and Mountaineer plants and close to neutral for the Mitchell Plant. Like, when you see the white smoke coming out of the stacks, it's clean.". But while the SCC moved to approve AEPs recovery of costs related to the federal Coal Combustion and Residuals (CCR), the commission denied about $4.2 million of expenses AEP had proposed for projects that would help the plants comply with the ELG rule. Until that rule is finalized, current regulations, including the 2015 and 2020 rules will be implemented and enforced, the EPA said. Buy Now. Videos, activities & resources for every occasion. Whats Your Heat Exchanger Maintenance IQ? Were going to have additional hundreds of million dollars of investment thats going to be stranded and have to be paid for by the ratepayers, he said. Nominate an Exceptional West Virginia Teacher! Three States Will Decide Their Fate. Built in the 1970s, the 900-foot-tall John Amos Plant has kept the lights on for millions of customers, while employing hundreds, if not thousands, of local workers. Coal-fired plants also produce less power than theyre capable of generating. A report published by the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that the John Amos, Mountaineer and Mitchell plants will no longer be economical to operate in five years. The coal it does not consume will not generate severance tax revenue for state and local government. An economic analysis by the Sierra Club comes to a different conclusion: closing the plants could save ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars. The John Amos Power Plant, operated by American Electric Power, sits on 400 acres along the Kanawha River in Winfield, WVa. This full-time position is located at the John Amos Power Plant in Winfield West Virginia. . Cloudy with occasional rain showers. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Chance of rain 70%. Bloodworth said goals such as the Biden administration's aim for a carbon-free grid by 2035 are "neither achievable nor realistic." Without the upgrades, which cost an estimated $444 million, the . Virginia customers would bear the costs of this unprecedented capacity overhaul., Appalachian Power now faces a complex situation. It plans to retire 5,574 megawatts of coal generation from now through 2030. "But step one is to plan the retirement for coal units.". The John E. Amos Power Plant is located near Winfield, Putnam County, West Virginia. The $317 million project would change the way the coal plants dispose of coal combustion residuals and wastewater from scrubbers that remove sulfur dioxide from plant emissions. If we instead retired one or both of the plants, we would have to spend billions of dollars on replacement capacity much earlier than necessary. We told the Virginia SCC that making the environmental investments for both CCR and ELG compliance at Amos and Mountaineer plants is more beneficial for customers than making only the CCR compliance investments, retiring the plants in 2028, and finding replacement capacity, she said. A report by West Virginia Universitys Bureau of Business and Economic Research. John E Amos Power Plant is a 2,932.6MW coal fired power project. It seemed like there was more flooding," he said. Charlie Reynolds, a Republican from West Virginias Marshall County, told the commission, referring to the Mitchell Plant. "I have never seen flooding like I've seen here in the past, really in the past 20 years," said longtime environmental activist Maria Gunnoe, whose family has lived and mined in West Virginia for generations. The John Amos power plant in Mason County isn't set to close anytime soon, but many U.S. coal plants are. Holladay says his model is mostly accurate, though he noted that the model cant know every specific circumstance surrounding each plant. Mullins runs West Virginia's largest commercial solar installation in the shadow of the John Amos power plant. For now, that would mean natural gas. Editorial: Two power plants' future becomes uncertain. Invalid password or account does not exist. "Utilities will have to find a way to manage that risk," Miller said. Appalachian Power is proposing several options including making the pollution control modifications to all three plants or closing Mitchell by 2028 and making the modifications to John Amos. "The coal industry has always kept our people in the dark, and I don't look for it to change. Both were smaller, older plants that didnt produce enough power to justify the investment needed to meet modern environmental standards. "The only question now is the glide path and how steep it is," Godby said. The plants three units were completed between 1971 and 1973. With a nameplate rating of 2,933 MW, it is the largest utility in the AEP system. Doing the work on their wastewater systems would delay the cost of retiring the plants and finding new sources of power to replace them. What happened in Virginia is a complicated situation, but in simple terms, Appalachian Power wanted a rate increase there, but the Sierra Club opposed it. A report published by the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that the John Amos, Mountaineer and Mitchell plants will no longer be economical to operate in five years. Editorial: Two power plants' future becomes uncertain. The John E. Amos Power Plant near Winfield, West Virginia, is being studied for early retirement, along with the Mountaineer Power Plant near New Haven, West Virginia. The facility operates one surface . Appalachian Power may have used the rate process in Virginia to begin the process of accelerating its move toward natural gas and renewables at the expense of coal. It may not be that simple, however. Utility customers in West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky would pay for the cost. Virginia customers would bear the costs of this unprecedented capacity overhaul., Appalachian Power now faces a complex situation. Former acting EPA general counsel Kevin Minoli calls West Virginia's Supreme Court challenge of EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions at power plants one of the most significant environmental cases in U.S. history. Taking Amos and Mountaineer out of service would not be a simple step for AEP. But you have to go through the process the right way," Morrisey said. Chris Harris/The Herald-Dispatch The John Amos Power Plant in Putnam County, W.Va., Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008. Closing the Amos plant alone in 2028 could save $1.4 billion, the Sierra Clubs analysis found. The John Amos Plant has a nameplate rating of 2,933 MW, making it the largest generating plant in the AEP system. Natural gas toppled coal as the nations top electricity source about five years ago, and renewables have caught up. With a carbon tax, the Sierra Club projects that utility customers could save $2.4 billion if Amos closed in 2028; $1.5 billion if Amos and Mountaineer closed and $350 million if Mitchell closed. Watch locally produced documentaries & more. that will be taken to close the CCR unit, including identification of major milestones such as coordinating with and obtaining necessary approvals and permits . Both plants handle part of Appalachian Powers baseload needs in Virginia and West Virginia, so their output would have to be replaced with a dependable source. Part of the costs will be passed on to ratepayers. Aerial image of the John Amos plant with groundwater testing results near ash waste. But John Amos was also a Democratic National Committeeman. additional options for reusing and discharging small volumes of bottom ash transport water, provides an exception for retiring units and extends the compliance deadline to a date as soon as possible beginning one year after the rule was published but no later than December 2025, the company said in late July. Appalachian Power's John E. Amos Plant uses about 6 to 7 million tons of coal each year. Invalid password or account does not exist. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. The 2,900-MW John E. Amos coal-fired power plant near Charleston, W.Va., has been producing power since the early 1970s. Adding another level of complexity are the changing federal rule requirementsas new administrations take the helm in Washington, D.C. A carbon tax puts a price on climate-changing greenhouse emissions. Be Proactive. "To allow un-elected bureaucrats just to decide under the guise of good government that's not right. The regional grid operator must certify that enough power is available from other sources to meet all expected needs. Theres also the delicate matter of what happens to the communities that depend on the plants for jobs and tax revenue, as well as the coal mines that supply them. We are first in your inbox with the most important news in the industry―keeping you smarter and one-step ahead in this ever-changing and competitive market. We won't share it with anyone else. content Low 43F. DTE is currently planning on closing Monroe in 2040, but has said it will study an earlier retirement date as part of its long-term plan submitted to Michigan utility regulators. CLENDENIN, West Virginia -- A historic flood from sudden torrential rain nearly wiped out entire towns in West Virginia's mountainous coal country, killing 23 and inflicting $1 billion in damage. A final decision should be coming in the next several weeks. estimated the states power plants account for $4.8 billion in direct output, $725 million in wages and $97.3 million tax in revenue. Such plants are becoming more scarce as the nation retires much of its coal fleet in a transition to other forms of electricity generation. The plants are aging. In addition to avoiding replacement capacity costs, the plants also serve to protect customers from potentially volatile energy costs, with energy being the actual amount of electricity used from whatever source. Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power have told state regulators that 2028 is the earliest date the plants would close, three years after Holladays model forecasts they could close. Fossil fuel energy is still a mainstay in state. A proposed rule is expected in fall 2022. [2] The lower output means fewer workers, from the mines to the power plants. "We think market operators need to revisit payment mechanisms to ensure these dispatchable generators don't retire due to artificially driven economics," Bloodworth said. The John Amos power plant in Mason County isn't set to close anytime soon, but many U.S. coal plants are. You know what I mean? Recent months have seen a fresh round of new and accelerated retirement announcements driven by utilities adopting new climate policies and goals, said Seth Feaster, a data analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. We'd love to hear eyewitness February 10, 2009 [17] West Virginia residents are beginning to strongly oppose a proposed American Electric Power transmission line to bring more power to New Jersey, where they pay more per kilowatt than in West Virginia. Its three power units released 10.8 million tons of earth-warming carbon dioxide last year or the equivalent of more than 2 million cars driven for a year government records show. As part of a deal to secure a rate increase in Virginia, Appalachian Power has agreed to examine what would happen if the John Amos Power Plant in Putnam County and the Mountaineer Power Plant in Mason County were taken out of service ahead of schedule. Inside and outside our model, 2040 is hard to imagine, said Scott Holladay, an associate professor of economics at the University of Tennessee. or anything. Sign up for the Ohio Valley Resource newsletter. If an agreement is reached, Mon Power ratepayers will pay a $3 million a month surcharge to keep the plants 146 employees working and the plant in operating condition. However, the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) on July 15 only approved CCR-compliance projects at Mitchell, moving distinctly to deny projects related to the ELG rule. In the long run, it could mean renewables. "We can't continue to risk everything for energy, you know, I mean coal keeps the lights on, they say, but at what cost?". Rain ending early. Closing the Amos plant alone in 2028 could save $1.4 billion, the Sierra Club's analysis found. State regulators are under pressure from lawmakers and coal industry supporters to prevent the plants from closing. The Public Service Commission of West Virginia would have a say, and undoubtedly the governor and the Legislature would step in. In separate December 2020submitted cost recovery filings with regulators in West Virginia and Kentucky, two other AEP subsidiariesWheeling Power and Kentucky Powerhad also sought cost recovery for CCR and ELG investments for another West Virginia coal plant, AEPs 1,560-MW, The West Virginia Public Service Commission (WVPSC) on Aug. 4 ultimately approved cost recovery for both CCR and ELG investments at all three plantsAmos, Mountaineer, and Mitchell. Steam Electric Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELG) rule. Last year, Morgan Stanley went further and predicted there would be no coal producing electricity by 2033. Holladay says the utilities may choose to keep them open and lose money. At the Virginia SCC, Appalachian Power had argued its proposed investments for specific projects at the Amos and Mountaineer plants were the most cost-effective means of compliance with the federal CCR and ELG rules.

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