Coal Is Key To Continued Affordable OK Utilities
Oklahoma utilities have big decisions to make on long-term coal usage
By Paul Monies Modified: August 4, 2013
Coal is far from dead in Oklahoma, but its long-term prospects as a fuel for electricity generation are dwindling due to environmental constraints, competition from natural gas and wind and an aging coal-generation fleet.
The state’s two largest electric utilities are charting different paths with their coal plants. Public Service Co. of Oklahoma wants to retire the last of its two coal units at Northeastern Station near Oologah by 2026.
Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. wants to keep its two coal plants going, but the next power plant it builds likely will be fueled by natural gas. OG&E plans to put off building a new fossil-fueled plant until at least 2020, largely through energy efficiency and projects to reduce demand.
Oklahoma has six coal plants producing electricity, with five of the six dating to the 1970s and 1980s. The average useful life of a coal plant is about 48 years, according to a recent market report for the Southwest Power Pool, a regional transmission organization that covers Oklahoma and eight other states.