Mississippi Power Confirms Retirement of Two Coal Units at Plant Daniel

Jackson, MS -- Late last week, Southern Company subsidiary Mississippi Power released its Integrated Resource Plan, which details the utility’s long term plans for providing power to its Mississippi customers.

The utility announced that it will decommission the coal units at Victor J. Daniel Electric Generating Plant (Plant Daniel) in 2027, a 1,004 MW coal-burning plant with two coal units located in Jackson County, near Escatawpa, Mississippi. The utility also confirmed that it will decommission three fracked gas power plant units, totalling 450 MW of additional fossil fuel retirements. 

This announcement follows a Mississippi Public Service Commision order that mandated Mississippi Power to reduce its electricity-generating capacity by 950 MW by 2027. The order coincided with a Mississippi Public Utilities Staff commissioned report that shows that Plant Daniel is no longer economic for Mississippi Power customers. The plant costs substantially more to run and maintain than the energy is worth. Sierra Club has long called attention to Plant Daniel as an uneconomic source of electricity and major source of dirty air and water emissions. 

Louie Miller, State Director for the Mississippi Sierra Club, released the following statement:

“The Mississippi PSC should be congratulated for paving the way for this announcement. The Commissioners have exercised their due diligence in continuing to protect the public’s pocketbook when it comes to electric rates while providing reliable electric service to Mississippians.”

“As the PSC turns its attention to the Solar Net Metering Docket, the Commissioners are well positioned to ensure Mississippi takes full advantage of new clean energy investments. This new sector of our economy will provide much needed tax revenue and good paying jobs for our state.”
 

David Rogers, Southeast Regional Deputy Director for the Beyond Coal Campaign, released the following statement:

“No doubt, retiring Plant Daniel means folks living in the area can breathe easier knowing that there is an end date to burning coal. But this is also a win for all of Mississippi Power’s customers, who won’t have to pay for the expensive electricity the coal plant produces.”

“Southern Company has made a vague commitment to reach “net zero” carbon emissions by 2050, and while this decision by Mississippi Power is in the right direction, it still isn’t enough. Georgia Power still operates multiple coal plants. Alabama Power still operates coal plants. None of these coal plants have set retirement dates, meaning Southern Company plans to pollute our air and water indefinitely, hurtling us closer to climate catastrophe.”

“We have the clean, affordable, and reliable technology to swiftly transition to a clean energy economy right now, but it’s going to take far bolder steps by mega-utilities like Southern Company who have the power and resources to be a leader instead of continuing dragging their heels. Southern needs to do the right thing and support coal plant communities while accelerating the transition.”