Ohio coal power plant to close

(Blog post derived from The Columbus Dispatch)
There was big energy news today that American Electric Power (AEP) plans to close a coal-fired power plant near Beverly, Ohio, that had been slated for conversion to run on natural gas. The Columbus-based utility said yesterday that Muskingum River Unit 5, with a capacity of 585 MWs, will stop operating in 2015. The company is taking that action at a time when wholesale electricity prices remain low, and Ohio’s power demand has been close to flat.”

Teresa Ringenbach, Senior Manager, Government & Regulatory Affairs, Direct Energy, comments: As coal-fired power plants age and new environmental rules are put into place, it is likely some plants will be shut down. However, just like any other industry where new technology replaces the old, new plants will be built if and when they are needed. In fact, many new plants are already approved and several new plants went online in PJM over the last few years. There are federal, state, and regional reliability protections for customers to ensure the lights stay on. Lastly, competitors such as Direct Energy have the capability to offer innovative products designed to allow customers the flexibility to save money even if market prices increase. Read the July 12 article from The Columbus Dispatch.

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Pennsylvania coal power plants to shut down

(Post derived from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

There was big energy news this week that FirstEnergy will be deactivating two coal-fired power plants in Pennsylvania – 1,710 MW Hatfield’s Ferry power station in Masontown, Greene County, and the 370 MW Mitchell plant in Courtney, Washington County. One reason is the cost to comply with EPA’s mercury and air toxics standards. Another is the cheap price of natural gas nudging coal generation to the side. And a big part of it is the lack of demand for electricity. Direct Energy comments.

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Direct Energy names first-ever Pittsburgh Small Business Community Hero

Direct Energy and Pittsburgh Magazine honor Scott Pipitone, president and CEO of Pipitone Group, as the 2013 Pittsburgh Small Business Community Heroes awardee for his dedication to community investment and revitalization. Pipitone was chosen for his personal contributions as well as his Observatory Hill-based integrated marketing communications firm’s commitment to helping dozens of area non-profits advance their missions to benefit thousands of people.

During the past six years the company has provided pro-bono marketing services to the tune of more than $230,000 of in-kind contributions for organizations such as Strength & Courage: Exercises for Breast Cancer Survivors; the Northside/Northshore Chamber of Commerce; Ingomar Living Waters; and many others. These contributions don’t include his personal financial contributions and his fostering and facilitating of a spirit of giving back to the community in his 33 employees, who in turn, take that spirit into their own communities.

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Direct Energy awards $2,500 energy efficiency grant in Ohio

Direct Energy presented a $2,500 Reduce Your Use For Good Grant to Medina Creative Housing, a nonprofit that provides affordable housing and quality services for persons with disabilities living in Medina County (the Greater Cleveland area). Medina Creative Housing is the first nonprofit in Ohio to receive this grant.

Through the Reduce Your Use For Good program, Direct Energy is donating up to $100,000 to implement energy-saving changes to nonprofits’ operations, and awards grants in $2,500 increments. Applications are available online at ReduceYourUseForGood.com and on the Direct Energy Facebook page.

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