R. Paul Smith Power Station
| Company type | Decommissioned power plant |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electric power generation |
| Predecessor | Original 1927 generating unit |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Founder | Potomac Public Service Company |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Fate | Decommissioned |
| Headquarters | Williamsport , United States |
Area served | Maryland, United States |
| Products | Electricity generation (coal-fired steam turbines, fuel oil) |
| Owner | FirstEnergy (previously Allegheny Energy) |
The R. Paul Smith Power Station is a decommissioned electricity generation facility located in Williamsport, Maryland, owned by FirstEnergy (previously known as Allegheny Energy).
Description
This power plant consisted of two coal-fired steam turbines with a total output capacity of 116 MW, which also had the capability to burn fuel oil as an alternative. Its cooling system utilized once-through water sourced from the Potomac River.
Positioned between the Potomac River and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal just north of Lock 44, the station initially received coal shipments via railroad until the mid-1950s. After 1974, coal transportation switched exclusively to trucks. The disposal of coal ash was managed through ash ponds located across the river in West Virginia.
Although regulated under the federal Clean Air Act, the Maryland Department of the Environment granted this plant an exemption from the state’s Healthy Air Act emission limits due to its operational age and significance to grid stability. Nevertheless, following FirstEnergy’s shutdown of the facility in 2012, Maryland considered reinstating more stringent emission controls should the plant restart operations.
History
The original power generation facility in Williamsport was constructed beginning in 1922 by Potomac Public Service Company, which merged into Potomac Edison Company in 1923. Subsequently, in 1925, Potomac Edison became part of West Penn Electric Company. The first generating unit commenced operation in 1927, with coal supplied by the Western Maryland Railway. The station was named in honor of R. Paul Smith, who served as the company’s inaugural president.
The initial 1927 unit was replaced in 1947 with a new 34.5 MW unit, and later supplemented by a 75 MW unit installed in 1958. In 1960, West Penn Electric was rebranded as Allegheny Power System, Inc. By approximately 1970, coal deliveries transitioned from rail transport to truck haulage.
On January 26, 2012, FirstEnergy, the parent company, announced plans to close the plant citing prohibitive costs associated with environmental retrofits required by forthcoming regulations. The R. Paul Smith Power Station was one of six FirstEnergy facilities retired that year and operated sporadically before permanently ceasing operations on September 1, 2012.