Curtis Tate Published

Senate Moves To Delay Closure, Demolition Of Pleasants Power Plant

Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants, stands next to Sen. Charles Clements, R-Wetzel, with a red backdrop on the Senate floor.
Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants, has led the push in the Senate to save the Pleasants Power Station. Here she is with Sen. Charles Clements, R-Wetzel, on the Senate floor.
Will Price/West Virginia Legislative Photography
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Earlier this week, the West Virginia Senate passed a resolution intended to save a power plant from closure.

On Friday, the chamber unanimously adopted a bill that would make it harder to shut down or demolish a power plant in the state.

Senate Bill 609 would require a power plant’s owner to seek permission from the state Public Energy Authority to close or tear it down.

Additionally, it would require a third party to study the economic, social and environmental impact of the plant’s elimination.

It would exempt facilities that have been closed for at least five years.

The only power plant in the state the new requirements would apply to is the Pleasants Power Station in Pleasants County. Owner Energy Harbor plans to shut it down at the end of May.

The Senate on Monday passed a resolution encouraging Mon Power to buy the plant.

SB 609 was made effective from passage and now heads to the House.

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