Brian Willis: Brian.Willis@sierraclub.org, 202.675.2386
WASHINGTON, D.C. - FirstEnergy Solutions notified PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM) today that it plans to deactivate two uneconomic coal plants unless the Trump Administration forces taxpayers and electricity customer to spend billions of dollars to bail them out. The plants being considered for retirement have been uneconomic for years, as cleaner, cheaper competitors like solar, wind, and energy efficiency have taken their customers. Despite the marketplace’s rejection of these plants, however, FirstEnergy Solutions has repeatedly demanded bailouts from state and federal governments and have been rejected every time.
In response, Mary Anne Hitt, Senior Director of Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign released the following statement:
“This announcement makes clear that these coal plants are old, dirty, and too expensive to operate in a competitive market, and that’s the reason why they should be retired. FirstEnergy Solutions’ primary objective at this point should be to treat their workers with the respect that they deserve and help them transition to new economic opportunities with dignity. They should not be asking the federal government to force taxpayers and electricity customers to spend tens of billions of dollars to bail out their old, expensive coal plants that can no longer compete in PJM’s marketplace.
“FirstEnergy Solutions could have planned for a responsible transition to clean energy, but instead they ran to the edge of a cliff in the hopes of receiving a coal bailout from their customers or Donald Trump, and in doing so they’ve left their workers in the lurch. The communities affected by these plants deserve clean air and opportunity, not to be treated like political pawns. It was FirstEnergy Solutions’ millionaire executives who got the company into this situation, and working families shouldn’t be the ones who pay the price for the company’s reckless failures of leadership.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.