FirstEnergy to Close Coal Plants, Give Ohioans Cleaner Air

(OHIO – JULY 22, 2016) Ohio-based utility giant FirstEnergy today announced the closure of four units of its Sammis coal-fired power plant and the remaining oil-fired unit of its Bay Shore facility, representing a reduction of almost 900 megawatts of dirty power generation. Most of the uneconomic units had been part of the utility giant’s $4-billion bailout request, which was blocked by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission earlier this year. An updated version of FirstEnergy’s request to keep its unprofitable power plants online is currently before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

“Closing these outdated, dirty power plants not only shows FirstEnergy finally recognizes the market momentum toward coal’s inevitable demise, the decision is great news for Ohio customers, who avoid paying a massive subsidy to keep the units afloat. These closures are also undoubtedly a huge victory for healthier air, yet FirstEnergy continues to ask customers to pay for its bad business decisions and provide subsidies to other dirty and uneconomic plants. We need to keep working to protect Ohioans, from both pollution and politically powerful utilities like FirstEnergy.”