Coleto Creek Power Plant shutting down by 2027

[TexasTowelie]

FANNIN -- The Coleto Creek Power Plant, which generates millions of dollars in tax revenues annually for Goliad County, will shut down by 2027.

The Fannin coal plant, which was built in 1980, is closing due to a combination of federal environmental regulations and competition in the Texas energy market, said Brad Watson, director of community affairs for Vistra, the parent company of the plant’s owner-operator.

In a memo sent to Goliad County officials this week, Watson said it would be prohibitively expensive for the plant to comply with two recently finalized rules enacted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. One of these regulates the disposal of coal ash and the other limits the level of toxic metals in wastewater discharged from power plants.

“Ultimately, compliance with these EPA rules would require investment in new equipment, costing tens of millions of dollars,” the memo said. “This investment cannot be justified based on the underlying economics of the plant and the uncertainty of more stringent regulations under a new presidential administration.”

Read more: https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/counties/goliad/coleto-creek-power-plant-shutting-down-by-2027/article_261596c8-342b-11eb-92e8-0f9c2d927a2b.html

[texasfiddler]

1. You read a lot of newspapers

I was the electrical engineer for that facility a while back. Now I work on renewables and gas plants. I got a call from an electrician that works out there. He was asking about online EE degrees. The company is paying for the education of the workers as part of a shutdown bonus if they choose. This younger guy is smart enough to take advantage of the offer. Most of the others probably won’t.

[TexasTowelie]

3. Well, I have about 75 media sites for Texas in my database so I manage to cover a lot of Texas.

My parents lived in George West so I passed by that plant whenever we would go up US 59 to Houston to visit my grandparents and other relatives.

Your friend is wise to jump into EE, particularly if he is still reasonably young. I suspect that the older workers will decide to retire if it is financially feasible. My Facebook feed is full of advertisements to get an advanced degree online, but I've reached the age where obtaining another degree isn't going to help me find a job. Prior to COVID-19 I entertained the idea of returning to college to audit some courses since I still enjoy learning and to improve my social life. However, if the only thing I receive is online learning, then I rather save the money and not be stressed out about something as silly as grades.

[Firestorm49]

2. They're shutting one down in Oak Creek, WI. as well.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Earlier story on that plant said

it was being replaced by Solar Batteries. That plant is one of the oldest in the whole of Wisconsin.

[marble falls]

5. Gee, Brad - you ran it under the ground with Trump's EPA and you blame the Biden Administration ...

... fucking brilliant.