Five PA coal-fueled power plants to close due to Obama administration regulation

[DaGoose]

Five PA coal-fueled power plants to close due to Obama administration regulation « Hot Air

We get on President Obama’s case for neglecting to keep his campaign promises, so it’s only fair to note when he fulfills them. In January 2008, Obama promised to bankrupt coal-fired power plants with his new environmental regulations. Consider this a promise kept:

GenOn Energy Inc. plans to close five of its older coal-fired power plants in Pennsylvania over the next four years.

The company, based in Houston, said Wednesday that tough new environmental rules make it unprofitable to operate the plants, which generate a total of 3,140 megawatts of electricity. The plants are in Portland, Shawville, Titus, New Castle and Elrama. Two plants in Ohio and one in New Jersey will also be closed. The company said the timeframes are subject to further review based on market conditions.

You noticed that these are OLDER plants and that "the timeframes are subject to further review based on market conditions", right?

If the market prices were higher these plants could be fitted with the needed equipment to comply. But as it is they are old, inefficient plants that are most likely too expensive to run in the deregulated market.

Our production costs average around $18 per MW. Mercury controls that bring us into compliance only adds about $1 per MW to that cost. So don't try and spin this as an expensive solution.

And for you to try and imply that mercury poison put out by power plants is not a real threat is beyond comprehension.

 

[DaGoose]

Poor, poor Pattycake. But he will just have to get used to the idea that a majority of Americans really like the idea of clean unpolluted air and water.

They also like the idea of cheap electric power that works, not the kind that costs 5 times as much and only comes on when the sun is out or it's windy. When they are freezing in the dark and see their food rotting in their refrigerators, how thrilled are they going to be with "green energy?" The fact is, they already laugh when people mention the idea.

Now if you REALLY want to know what is hurting coal plants we just had an All Hands Meeting on this yesterday.

The double punch of the warm winter and cheap natural gas prices are killing us right now. They have driven the cost per MW down so much that it's very hard to compete.

Coal Turns Ugly as Gas Cuts Use to 20-Year Low: Energy Markets - Bloomberg

 

[Too Tall]

Thank God for the EPA.

Mercury poisoning is a serious business.

Shut all of them down, don't you agree?

 

[editec]

The OWNERS of those plants closed because the cost of retrofitting them such that they didn't spew poison into the air made their continued operation unprofitable.


Those plants got an EXTRA ten years of operations thanks to Bush II's (misnomer) CLEAN SKYs act, but that extra time to spew crap into the air is now over.

The law that closed those plants was passed under BUSH II, folks.

The premise of this thread is based on a big fat lie, kiddies...the lie is that Obama had to do anything to make those plants cloe.

He didn't.

He just allowed the laws already in effect take effect.

 

[Too Tall]

The OWNERS of those plants closed because the cost of retrofitting them such that they didn't spew poison into the air made their continued operation unprofitable.


Those plants got an EXTRA ten years of operations thanks to Bush II's (misnomer) CLEAN SKYs act, but that extra time to spew crap into the air is now over.

The law that closed those plants was passed under BUSH II, folks.

The premise of this thread is based on a big fat lie, kiddies...the lie is that Obama had to do anything to make those plants cloe.

He didn't.

He just allowed the laws already in effect take effect.

• On December 16, 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed a rule to reduce emissions of toxic air pollutants from power plants. Specifically, these mercury and air toxics standards (MATS) for power plants will reduce emissions from new and existing coaland oil-fired electric utility steam generating units (EGUs.

I believe that an unelected bureaucrat in the EPA made this decision to enforce Obama's stated intention to put all of the coal fired plants out of business.

I would take this back if you link the specific LAW that required this.

 

[Too Tall]

In less than a generation, the coal industry will be dead, with or without anything that President Obama does.

China will buy all the coal we can mine.

 

[bripat9643]

Five PA coal-fueled power plants to close due to Obama administration regulation « Hot Air

We get on President Obama’s case for neglecting to keep his campaign promises, so it’s only fair to note when he fulfills them. In January 2008, Obama promised to bankrupt coal-fired power plants with his new environmental regulations. Consider this a promise kept:

GenOn Energy Inc. plans to close five of its older coal-fired power plants in Pennsylvania over the next four years.

The company, based in Houston, said Wednesday that tough new environmental rules make it unprofitable to operate the plants, which generate a total of 3,140 megawatts of electricity. The plants are in Portland, Shawville, Titus, New Castle and Elrama. Two plants in Ohio and one in New Jersey will also be closed. The company said the timeframes are subject to further review based on market conditions.

You noticed that these are OLDER plants and that "the timeframes are subject to further review based on market conditions", right?

How are "market changes" going to make adding hundreds of millions of dollars in additional costs cheaper for the consumer? Furthermore, anyone who thinks the EPA is a qualified judge of "market costs" is a blithering moron.

If the market prices were higher these plants could be fitted with the needed equipment to comply. But as it is they are old, inefficient plants that are most likely too expensive to run in the deregulated market.

In other words, the alternative to imposing higher energy prices on consumers is imposing higher energy prices on consumers. You don't seem to get the point. It's not to keep the plants operating solely for the sake of keeping the plants operating. The point is to keep the price to consumers low. All your "solutions" don't do a thing about that.

Our production costs average around $18 per MW. Mercury controls that bring us into compliance only adds about $1 per MW to that cost. So don't try and spin this as an expensive solution.

That may be the cost for your plant. that doesn't mean the cost will be the same for every coal plant. I can't believe you're supporting this con because it's only a matter of time until all coal fired power plants are on the chopping block. Then what are you going to do?

And for you to try and imply that mercury poison put out by power plants is not a real threat is beyond comprehension.

Then it should be easy for you to produce evidence that a single person was actually harmed by mercury from one, and I don't mean statistical extrapolations based on the number of people harmed from exposure to massive doses of Mercury. That doesn't mean shit.

Mercury put out by all our coal fired power plants doesn't amount to a fart in the wind.

 

[bripat9643]

The OWNERS of those plants closed because the cost of retrofitting them such that they didn't spew poison into the air made their continued operation unprofitable.

According to the EPA, you're spewing poison into the air every time you exhale. When are we going to shut you down?

Those plants got an EXTRA ten years of operations thanks to Bush II's (misnomer) CLEAN SKYs act, but that extra time to spew crap into the air is now over.

So you wouldn't object to being executed so long as it was 10 years from now? The time it takes to implement stupid regulations doesn't make them any less stupid.

The law that closed those plants was passed under BUSH II, folks.

ROFL! The regulations were implemented by the Obama administration. No matter who's responsible, they are still stupid.

The premise of this thread is based on a big fat lie, kiddies...the lie is that Obama had to do anything to make those plants cloe.

Wrong, asshole. Not even the Obama administration denies it.

 

[DaGoose]

Opined by bripat.....How are "market changes" going to make adding hundreds of millions of dollars in additional costs cheaper for the consumer? Furthermore, anyone who thinks the EPA is a qualified judge of "market costs" is a blithering moron.

Who said anything about the "EPA being a qualified judge of market costs"? I sure didn't. And this is more than about "cheap energy". This is about cleaning up the output. Of course production would be cheaper if nobody had to do it responsibly.

AGAIN...The company said the timeframes are subject to further review based on market conditions. That means if the market price suddenly jumps up then they will keep them open and retrofit them. THIS IS A MARKET DRIVEN DECISION.

Opined by bripat.....In other words, the alternative to imposing higher energy prices on consumers is imposing higher energy prices on consumers. You don't seem to get the point. It's not to keep the plants operating solely for the sake of keeping the plants operating. The point is to keep the price to consumers low. All your "solutions" don't do a thing about that.

No. YOU don't get the point. This is not about "responsibility" versus "production". This is about responsible production. And if it costs a little more to produce then I support that.

Opined by bripat.....That may be the cost for your plant. that doesn't mean the cost will be the same for every coal plant. I can't believe you're supporting this con because it's only a matter of time until all coal fired power plants are on the chopping block. Then what are you going to do?

Not really. The cost should be about the same for every plant. ACI systems are now a very competitive market.

Opined by bripat.....Then it should be easy for you to produce evidence that a single person was actually harmed by mercury from one, and I don't mean statistical extrapolations based on the number of people harmed from exposure to massive doses of Mercury. That doesn't mean shit.

And if you refuse to believe that coal plants don't produce mercury and that mercury is not harmful then there's nothing I can do about that.

Opined by bripat.....Mercury put out by all our coal fired power plants doesn't amount to a fart in the wind.

Sorry, a "fart in the wind" is not a measurable tool. How would you know how much mercury is produced by the typical coal fired plant? Please tell me.

Again..... if you refuse to believe that coal plants don't produce mercury and that mercury is not harmful then there's nothing I can do about that.

 

[DaGoose]

Poor, poor Pattycake. But he will just have to get used to the idea that a majority of Americans really like the idea of clean unpolluted air and water.

They also like the idea of cheap electric power that works, not the kind that costs 5 times as much and only comes on when the sun is out or it's windy. When they are freezing in the dark and see their food rotting in their refrigerators, how thrilled are they going to be with "green energy?" The fact is, they already laugh when people mention the idea.

Now if you REALLY want to know what is hurting coal plants we just had an All Hands Meeting on this yesterday.

The double punch of the warm winter and cheap natural gas prices are killing us right now. They have driven the cost per MW down so much that it's very hard to compete.

Coal Turns Ugly as Gas Cuts Use to 20-Year Low: Energy Markets - Bloomberg

No coment on this, bripat? I figured an expert like you would be all over this like stink on shit and refuting it as liberal garbage.

 

[driveby]

Good!

Who in their right mind wants that shit funking up our air.

What are your gay electric cars going to run on, hope and change?.....

 

[bripat9643]

Good!

Who in their right mind wants that shit funking up our air.

What are your gay electric cars going to run on, hope and change?.....

Pixie dust and unicorn farts.

 

[Mr. H.]

Looks like these folks will be shutting down their entire Illinois operations...

Midwest Generation Might Shut Down More Illinois Coal Plants | Progress Illinois

 

[WillowTree]

Five PA coal-fueled power plants to close due to Obama administration regulation « Hot Air

We get on President Obama’s case for neglecting to keep his campaign promises, so it’s only fair to note when he fulfills them. In January 2008, Obama promised to bankrupt coal-fired power plants with his new environmental regulations. Consider this a promise kept:

GenOn Energy Inc. plans to close five of its older coal-fired power plants in Pennsylvania over the next four years.

The company, based in Houston, said Wednesday that tough new environmental rules make it unprofitable to operate the plants, which generate a total of 3,140 megawatts of electricity. The plants are in Portland, Shawville, Titus, New Castle and Elrama. Two plants in Ohio and one in New Jersey will also be closed. The company said the timeframes are subject to further review based on market conditions.

Well, I guess Pennsylvania won't fall to them thar demoncrats this year.

 

[bripat9643]

Well, I guess Pennsylvania won't fall to them thar demoncrats this year.

Not when their utility bills triple. Let's just hope they shut down coal fired power plants in all the states that are up for grabs.

 

[The T]

Thank God for the EPA.

Mercury poisoning is a serious business.

Except when liberals force faggoty curly lightbulbs down our throats of course...........

I stock a plethora of incandescents...I cant stand the light off those bulbs...I get enough of that crappy light at work.