Two Coal-Fired Power Plants to Shut Down This Year, a Dozen More Next Year

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Industrial Info is tracking the possible closures of 14 coal-fired power plants between now and the end of 2016. Two of these plants, along with one formerly coal-fired plant, are possibly closing before the end of this year. The dozen plants shutting down next year will be listed in an upcoming article.

One of this year's closures is for the 65-year-old Green River Power Station in Central City, Kentucky, which generated 249 megawatts (MW) at its peak. The plant, owned by Kentucky Utilities Company (Lexington, Kentucky), stopped producing electricity at the end of last month.

The second plant closing this year, the Nelson Dewey Power Station in Cassville, Wisconsin, is 56 years old and generates 200 MW. The plant owner, Alliant Energy (NYSE:LNT) (Madison, Wisconsin), said at the start of the year it was looking to sell the plant. There is no sign so far that Alliant Energy has found a buyer for the Nelson Dewey site.

Maria Lauck, Alliant Energy's regional director of generation operations, said: "While Alliant Energy has received several informal inquiries regarding the reuse of the property since we announced the plant's retirement, it's now time to start the formal process of finding a new owner. Finding a buyer who will reuse the site in a way that has a positive impact for the community is important to us and provides the most benefit for all our customers."

Another candidate for closure this year in Cassville is the E.J. Stoneman Power Station, which spent most of its life as a coal-fired plant. The plant is owned by DTE Energy Company (NYSE:DTE) (Detroit, Michigan) and was brought online in 1949. The plant stopped burning coal and is now burning biomass, producing 53 MW.

Even though the final fate of the E.J. Stoneman plant is not yet publically known, the closure of it and the Nelson Dewey plant would put a large strain on Cassville's economy. The town has a population of about 1,000, and the plant closures will mean 80 jobs lost. In addition, the town's budget will take a huge hit; the economic impact amounts to slightly more than half the town's revenue.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel quoted Cassville Village President Keevin Williams: "Our taxes have remained very low and there's been no increase in them, all of a sudden you now take the utility credit away and it's a huge impact on your budget."

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and ten international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.