About 105 jobs scotched by EPA junk science.
The West Virginia Gazette reports:
Three FirstEnergy power plants in West Virginia will close in September in the latest move by a utility to shutter decades-old units that can’t meet new federal air quality standards that limit mercury and other toxic pollutants.
Akron, Ohio-based FirstEnergy said it would shut down the Albright Power Station in Preston County, the Rivesville Power Station in Marion County and the Willow Island Power Station in Pleasants County.
Together, seven boilers at the three plants have electric generating capacity of about 660 megawatts, about the equivalent of a medium-sized modern coal plant.
All three facilities date back to the 1940s and 1950s. They were not equipped with the latest pollution control devices, and FirstEnergy used all three in recent years on a very limited basis to provide power in times of peak demand.
James R. Haney, president of West Virginia operations for FirstEnergy, cited high costs to implement the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards as the reason for his company’s action.
FirstEnergy said 105 employees at the plants are affected, but that some will be considered for openings within the company or may accept special retirement packages…