First Energy last week announced plans to build a new natural gas–fired power plant at a yet-to-be-determined location in West Virginia. Newsman Mike Nolting filed a complete story.

That decision comes despite a legislative push – led by state senators Brian Helton, Rollan Roberts, and Chris Rose – to force coal-fired power plants in the state to run at least 69% of the time, regardless of market economics. Under that proposal, companies that don’t comply could lose the ability to file rate cases for cost recovery, not just for generation but potentially for transmission and distribution as well.

So Why Gas, Not Coal?

If coal-fired electricity truly drove down power bills, why wouldn’t First Energy simply build a coal plant? Either way, the company expands its rate base and earns a retu

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