The Harrison Power Station, a coal-fired power plant in Harrison County, was the ninth highest emitter of greenhouse gases in the country in 2023, according to data Data was released last week from the Federal Office for Environmental Protection.
The EPA’s 2023 Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program examined emissions from 6,470 power plants, chemical plants, factories, natural gas producers, refineries and more across the country.
According to the data, the Harrison Power Plant, operated by Mon Power, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., released about 11.18 million tons of greenhouse gases into the environment last year. That represents an approximately 4.4% decrease in the plant’s emissions compared to 2022, when the plant ranked eighth nationally in greenhouse gases released.
A total of 113 facilities in West Virginia were included in the EPA’s greenhouse gas report. Thirteen of these facilities were in the top 10% of greenhouse gas emitters nationwide. Along with the Harrison Power Plant, the John E. Amos Power Plant was in the top 1% of issuers. The South Charleston power plant ranks 20th in the nation and released 87.5 million tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere last year.
Combined, all West Virginia facilities reporting to the EPA released 64.6 million tons of greenhouse gases into the air in 2023, representing a 4.9% decrease in emissions compared to 2022 and an 18.7% decrease in emissions in 2023 Compares to 2013.
The extensive majority of Harrison Power Plant’s emissions in 2023 — more than 99% of them, according to the data — were carbon dioxide. Other emissions released from the Harrison Power Plant included methane (approximately 33,000 tons) and nitrous oxide (nearly 57,000 tons).
Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide – as well as other greenhouse gases – are known to be the main cause of global climate change, as they trap heat in the atmosphere, warming the planet. They are also known to boost air pollution and smog and contribute to asthma and other respiratory diseases in people who live in places with high concentrations of these substances in the air.
Almost all of the greenhouse gases emitted by the Harrison Power Station are used to generate electricity. The plant supplies energy to the PJM electric grid, which serves 13 states and the District of Columbia.
Over the past decade, greenhouse gas emissions from the Harrison Power Plant peaked in 2017, when the plant produced 12.3 million tons of greenhouse gases. This year it ranked 15th nationally in emissions.
So far, there is little control in the U.S. over carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants, which are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country, according to the EPA. In April, the EPA released novel, final rules, the will require All coal-fired power plants in the country that plan to operate beyond 2039 are expected to reduce or capture 90% of their CO2 emissions by 2032.
The rules were criticized Numerous officials from West Virginia and several states – including West Virginia – filed a lawsuit legal challenge against the novel rules. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who is running a Republican campaign to become the state’s next governor, has called it a tactic by President Joe Biden’s administration to shut down coal-fired power plants across the country.
Environmentalists have touted the stricter guidelines, hoping that over time they will facilitate spotless up historically polluted areas where health problems due to toxins persist and residents are forced to live without guaranteed access to spotless water or air life.
Last week the United States Supreme Court ruled refused the issue an emergency stay that would have halted implementation of the novel regulations, which also address coal ash, sewage and mercury pollution.
The Harrison Power Plant is scheduled to remain operational until 2040, which means it must meet the EPA’s novel environmental standards.
In a statement this week, FirstEnergy spokesman Will Boye said the company is “monitoring developments surrounding the EPA rule and any potential impacts to FirstEnergy.”
“FirstEnergy operates its facilities in compliance with all applicable environmental rules and regulations,” the statement continued.
Boye did not respond to questions about the Harrison Power Plant’s carbon emissions or planned work to reduce those emissions by the EPA’s deadline.
