Coal news and updates

American Electric Power stops generation at 10 coal-fired plants

American Electric Power confirmed Monday it has stopped generation at 10 coal-fired plants across five states planned for decommission this year.

Combined, the coal units in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia generated 5,588 MW, and all burned Central Appalachian or Northern Appalachian coal.

AEP spokeswoman Melissa McHenry said in an email that "all the units scheduled for retirement in May are no longer generating electricity. We still have employees on site at many of the plants doing decommissioning."

Closed were Muskingum River (Units 1-5, 1,440 MW), Picway (Unit 5, 100 MW) and Beckjord (53MW) in Ohio; Philip Sporn (Units 1-4, 995 MW), Kammer (Units 1-3, 630 MW) and Kanawha River (400 MW) in West Virginia; Clinch River (Unit 3, 235 MW) and Glen Lyn (335 MW) in Virginia; Tanners Creek (Units 1-4, 995 MW) in Indiana; and Big Sandy (Unit 2) in Kentucky.

McHenry said Big Sandy Unit 1 and Clinch River Units 1-2 are being refueled with natural gas, and that work will be ongoing into 2016.

AEP's announced 2016 coal plant retirements include Northeastern Station Unit 4 in Oklahoma, and Welsh Unit 2 in Texas.

The 12 AEP coal-fired plants scheduled for retirements by the end of 2016 generate a total of 6,586 MW combined.

source: http://www.platts.com