Mount Vernon Optic-Herald

AEP/SWEPCO staff predict shutdowns of some coal fired generation units and higher utility costs for consumers because of the  of revamped rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“We can see the train wreck coming,” Brian Bond, SWEPCO’s vice president of external affairs, told members of the Mount Vernon Economic Development Corporation Board. He explained that newly proposed time frames for utility companies to meet the new standards were “unrealistic.”
The company is already proposing the shutdown of the number two unit at the nearby Welsh Power Plant by the end of 2014. That equates to a loss of 44 jobs and 528 MW (Megawatts) of power generation. A payroll decrease in Texas of about $3.1 million is expected. An additional three indirect jobs losses are predicted for each job the company cuts.
According to Mr. Bond, the anticipated regulations will make it more cost effective to shut down some units rather than risk penalties in not meeting EPA deadlines. Retrofits with new cleaner operating technology are planned for Welsh Units 1 and 3. For more details, see the July 14 edition of the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald.