BL England files notice to shut down April 30
The B.L. England plant has sent a deactivation notice to wholesale electric coordinator PJM, saying it plans to shut down temporarily as of April 30, pending repowering.
It was sent to meet PJM’s requirement to provide 90-day prior notice, as required in the Administrative Consent Order with the state Department of Environmental Protection, owner R.C. Cape May Holdings said in a statement.
“This notice has nothing to do with whether the plant is still required for reliability,” the statement said. “The deactivation notice does not mean that the unit must retire by a specific date and the notice can be withdrawn at any time.”
South Jersey Gas is pursuing construction of a 22-mile transmission pipeline to the plant in the Beesleys Point section of Upper Township to allow it to convert to natural gas.
“The Administrative Consent Order between the DEP and the plant’s owner calls for shut down of the remaining coal unit unless PJM instructs otherwise,” said State Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Larry Hajna.
The DEP is requiring the plant to either convert to natural gas or shut down, over concerns about air quality from burning of coal.
PJM is the regional organization that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in all or parts of New Jersey, 12 other states and the District of Columbia.
