FirstEnergy

Senior Vice President Gary Benz in an interview Wednesday said FirstEnergy in announcing its new carbon-reduction goals wants to be “forward-thinking.”

“I think this is a really big step for our company,” Benz said. “It’s an acknowledgement by us that climate change is among the most important issues for our companies. It affects the communities in which we serve.”

FirstEnergy is one of the largest investor-owned electric utilities in the country, serving customers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and New York along with 2.2 million customers across northern Ohio.

FirstEnergy plans to reduce emissions at its two coal-fired generating plants in West Virginia by 2050 before closing them in 2050, Benz said. Energy Harbor, the owners of the nuclear plants, took ownership of FirstEnergy’s remaining two Ohio coal plants in the bankruptcy deal.

In addition, FirstEnergy plans to purchase electric or hybrid vehicles when replacing trucks in its fleet, including the large aerial vehicles used to repair power lines, building a large solar farm in West Virginia, and help customers manage energy use.

Benz declined to comment about the investigations or the lawsuits that have been filed against the company by angry shareholders or the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Neil Waggoner of the Sierra Club of Ohio questioned the timing of the statement given the investigations.

“Goals and commitments around carbon reduction are a good thing and a critical step in confronting the climate crisis, but the proof is in the pudding,” Waggoner said. “Pledges are admirable, but now let’s see the implementation plan.”