First Energy announced, April 5, the sale of 33 acres and the two cooling towers at the Hatfields Ferry power plant for $40 million to APV Renaissance Partners of New Jersey.  APV announced plans to build a 1000 MW gas-fired power plant at the site.

http://www.observer-reporter.com/20170405/company_reveals_plans_for_natural_gas_power_plant_at_former_hatfieldx2019s_ferry_site

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/prnewswire/press_releases/Pennsylvania/2017/04/05/CL54443

I suspect that, if the cooling towers are gone, FE will not be re-opening Hatfields Ferry for coal.  But Allegheny Energy had spent $650 million for scrubbers in 2009, then closed the plant in 2013, so we ratepayers will still be paying off those scrubbers for years to come!  There had been rumors that FE would re-start the plant, but it appears that additional mercury controls would be needed, and those would not be cost-effective.

Jim Kotcon