Dive Brief:
- Ratepayer advocates and environmental groups are urging the Oregon Public Utility Commission to withhold approval of PacifiCorp's planned investments in its coal-fired power plant fleet, arguing that pending environmental regulations may doom the plants.
- PacifiCorp's integrated resource plan (IRP) calls for adding pollution control equipment to some coal plants. The PUC is reviewing the IRP. Any cost recovery requests would be vetted in a rate case.
- In an effort to offer more information on a changing situation, PacifiCorp plans to file quarterly reports with the PUC giving the latest information on the company's coal plant plans.
Dive Insight:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to release a proposal for cutting greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants in mid-June. No one knows exactly how EPA will try to lower carbon emissions, but coal plants around the U.S. will no doubt be affected. Most likely, it will make sense to retire older, less efficient power plants that are marginally cost effective now. Those are the plants that plant owners shouldn't be investing in.
