LETTER FROM WASHINGTON

摘要

American Electric Power, the nation's largest coal-burning utility, says it will have to invest $6-8 billion, retire a quarter of its coal-fired plants in three years and retrofit and refuel more than 11 GW to comply with a suite of pending rules from the Environmental Protection Agency. AEP CEO Michael Morris said the retirements and idling for retrofits would "abruptly cut generation capacity in the Midwest by more than 5,400 MW," while compliance costs would push electricity rates up by 10% to more than 35%. About 600 jobs would be lost, he said.