Duke Energy to Close Power Plant Early
(photo courtesy of Duke Energy)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowPlainfield-based Duke Energy Indiana is planning to retire a Floyd County power plant about a year ahead of schedule. The utility says the Gallagher Station, which has been in operation for more than 60 years, will be retired by June 1.
Duke Energy had originally planned to retire the facility in 2022. However, the utility says lower power demand during the pandemic led to the plant operating at an even lower capacity than it had been in recent years, which led to the decision to retire it early.
The Gallagher Station currently has 24 employees and Duke Energy says they are being given the opportunity to seek other jobs within the company, some of which have already done so.
In a statement to Inside INdiana Business, Duke Energy spokesperson Angeline Protogere said there will still be activity on site after the facility is retired.
“We will eventually be dismantling the plant, and we are in the process of closing coal ash basins on site, which will take a number of years,” she said. “The power transmission lines and substation on site will still be operational. In the future we may look at options for how Duke Energy may use the site.”
Duke Energy says there will be no impact on service to the area after the plant is retired.