Another Suspended Coal Plant

The Associated Press today highlighted another coal plant that has screeched to a halt.  Westmoreland Coal Co. has suspended the development of its proposed 500-megawatt Gascoyne power plant project in North Dakota, citing uncertainty about federal carbon regulation. Westmoreland Power Inc. will now return more than $560,000 in state subsidies.

The article quotes Westmoreland Coal Co.’s executive chairman Keith Alessi. “There is much uncertainty in the utility sector on when future carbon regulation will come into effect,” he said. “At this time, [we] cannot predict when a long-term customer [for the plant’s electricity] can be found and the actual plant construction could commence. . .We cannot guarantee that this will take place. . .any time soon.”

While this clean-energy victory took place in southwestern North Dakota, it coincides with similar developments across the country. Energy regulators have struck down coal plants in Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Oregon.