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FirstEnergy: Pleasants decision is good news for future

For some time, it appeared the coal-fired power plant just south of St. Marys was doomed. FirstEnergy attempted to transfer it to subsidiaries, but regulators blocked that. No one wanted to buy the plant.

At the time, that seemed logical. It was clear an all-out offensive against coal and reasonably priced electricity from generating units using that fuel was underway. So FirstEnergy officials decided to close the plant.

Last week, however, they revealed the facility will remain in operation a bit longer.

“Keeping Pleasants in operation through May 2022 allows the plant to fulfill current capacity obligations and provides additional time for evaluation of the long-term plan for the station prior to deactivation,” said Jennifer Young, supervisor, electric delivery and state communications for FirstEnergy Corp.

That is good news for the station’s 160 employees — and for tens of millions of Americans worried they will be forced into paying more for their electricity.

Let us hope FirstEnergy’s decision signals that the utility industry as a whole is reconsidering its strategy to shut down coal-fired power plants — or at least steering clear of the cut-off-our-nose-to-spite-our-face approach.

Using regulatory agencies to pursue a vendetta against coal does not serve the American people well. A more measured approach to evaluating our changing energy needs, AND the needs of the people who help bring us that energy, may be returning.

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