AEP

With higher natural gas prices and rising demand for electricity, coal is on the rebound. But next year, there are signs coal will continue to decline.

West Virginia ratepayers will be responsible for covering the $448 million cost of upgrading the plants to keep them in line with Environmental Protection Agency regulations.

On Friday, the West Virginia Public Service Commission will consider whether customers of Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power will pay the full cost of upgrades to the John Amos, Mitchell and Mountaineer power plants.

Mountaineer has been generating electric power since Jimmy Carter was president. But due to changing environmental regulations and the competition from natural gas and renewable energy, time could be running out.

The Virginia Corporation Commission on Monday rejected Appalachian Power’s plan to keep the John Amos and Mountaineer power plants in West Virginia operating through 2040.

A report published by the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that the John Amos, Mountaineer and Mitchell plants will no longer be economical to operate in five years.

Appalachian Power said it could decide to close the John Amos and Mountaineer power plants in 2028 if the Virginia Corporation Commission denies its request to make upgrades to them.

State utility regulators have approved the $550 million transfer of an American Electric Power coal-fired power plant by a subsidiary.The Public Service…