Dive Summary:

• South Carolina Electric & Gas (SCE&G), a subsidiary of SCANA Corporation, announced plans to accelerate the permanent shut down of two coal-fired units at the Canadys Station power plant near Walterboro, S.C.
• SCANA decided to close the units this year after a reevaluation of its power requirements, analysis of its finances, and environmental regulations.
• In response to EPA’s Mercury Air Toxic Standards published in 2012, SCE&G identified six coal-fired units, including the three at Canadys Station, to close or be switched from coal to natural gas. The six units total 730 megawatts of generating capacity and are 45 to 57 years old.

From the press release:

“SCE&G President of Generation and Transmission and Chief Operating Officer Steve Byrne said retiring its older coal units will help the company meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations and achieve a more balanced generation portfolio. ‘By the end of 2018, we anticipate that roughly one-third of our electric generation will be fueled by nuclear power, one-third by natural gas, and one-third by scrubbed coal-fired plants,’ he said.