[hinckley buzzard]

FirstEnergy explained that it would not be cost-effective to upgrade any of the plants to meet new EPA regulations. One of the Ohio plants is over a hundred years old.

The real question is why they would not replace the lost generation capacity with a new clean coal or NG plant. It is possible they don't need the excess capacity in low growth NE Ohio.

[okie01]

The real question is why they would not replace the lost generation capacity with a new clean coal or NG plant. It is possible they don't need the excess capacity in low growth NE Ohio.

Obviously, they believe they can purchase power from other generators more cheaply than they can replace the capacity. And who would want to make a major capital investment commitment so long as Obama is in power?

They might also be crossing their fingers and hoping that the next administration pulls the EPA's fangs.