FirstEnergy announced it expects to deactivate two coal-fired power plants located in Pennsylvania by October 9, 2013. The decision is based on the cost of compliance with current and future environmental regulations in conjunction with the continued low market price for electricity. The plants scheduled to be deactivated are Hatfield's Ferry Power Station in Masontown, Pa., and Mitchell Power Station in Courtney, Pa. The total capacity of these plants is 2,080 MW, representing approximately 10 percent of the company's total generating capacity, but about 30 percent of the estimated $925 million cost to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). The plant deactivations are subject to review for reliability impacts, if any, by PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission operator.
