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Pleasants Power Station to Remain Operational Through 2022
By: Associated Press
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ST. MARYS, W.Va. (AP) – FirstEnergy says a West Virginia coal-fired power plant won’t close at the beginning of next year after all.
The Parkersburg News and Sentinel reports the energy company said the Pleasants Power Station in Willow Island will operate through June 1, 2022. The plant has about 160 employees.
FirstEnergy attempted for more than a year to transfer the 1,300-megawatt plant to subsidiaries, but the deal was blocked by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Although officials said earlier this year that they planned to close the plant, FirstEnergy Corp. spokeswoman Jennifer Young said Thursday that keeping it open for three more years allows it to fulfill obligations and provides additional time to evaluate long-term plans.
The plant began operations in 1979.