TL/DR –

We Energies is kicking coal to the curb, starting with their Oak Creek Power Plant. This decision is in sync with new EPA rules demanding coal plants capture 90% of their carbon emissions by 2039 or shut their smokestacks for good. But don’t get it twisted—while it sounds like a win-win, some folks are side-eyeing We Energies’ plan to swap coal for methane gas, questioning if it’s really a green move or just a slick way to sidestep emissions rules.

We Energies Begins Transition Away from Coal Power

We Energies has begun an eight-year shift from coal power, starting with the closure of two units from its Oak Creek Power Plant. This marks the Milwaukee-based utility’s first step in its coal-free by 2032 plan, following the EPA’s release of new rules for fossil-fuel energy sources in April.

New EPA Rules Affecting Coal Power Plants

The new rules will require coal plants to either stop operation or incur large expenses to capture 90% of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2039. The rules also establish new caps on mercury emissions and strengthen wastewater regulations. We Energies officials have been preparing for them for years, aiming to avoid an estimated $2 billion in spending that would be needed to continue to operate the coal plants under the new rules.

Impact on We Energies Operations

“Thanks to our advance planning, the recently announced EPA rules are not expected to have a significant impact on our operations or future plans for our power plants,” said Brendan Conway, spokesman for WEC Energy Group, parent company of both utilities.

What Do the EPA’s New Emissions Rules for Coal Plants Do?

The rules will require all existing coal plants to either close or capture 90% of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2039, projected to eliminate 1.4 billion metric tons of carbon pollution by 2047. EPA estimates suggest the health benefits of reducing carbon pollution in 2035 alone could include up to 1,200 avoided premature deaths, 870 avoided hospital visits, 1,900 new cases of asthma and 360,000 avoided cases of asthma symptoms.

What’s the Future of Oak Creek?

The Oak Creek Power Plant will be fully closed by 2025, with the nearby Elm Road Generating station fully converted to methane gas by 2032. The company is also seeking approval of a new natural gas plant that would produce power largely on an as-needed basis.

WEC’s Timetable for Ending Coal Use at its Power Plants

A plan released last year calls for We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service Corp. to only use coal for backup power by 2030 and to fully phase it out two years later. While converting plants to natural gas, WEC expects to be using coal as a backup fuel only by the end of 2030 and to fully phase out its use two years later.

How Do the EPA Air Pollution Rules Affect Methane Gas Plants?

Existing gas plants are exempt from the new rules, but new plants and coal plants converted to natural gas will need to conform to new emission rules unless they run at less than 40% capacity. We Energies plans to build a new plant at Oak Creek that can fill in gaps in the electricity supply as needed. This plant is designed to easily fit under the 40% rule.

Original Story at www.jsonline.com