Pennsylvania’s largest coal-fired generating station is shuttering operations on July 1 after years of competing with increasing natural gas-fired generation.

The 1,888-MW Homer City Generating Station by EME Homer City Generation LP began operating in 1969. A third unit was added in 1977. Over the years, however, natural gas supplied by the Marcellus and Utica shales has taken the lion’s share of power generation in the Keystone State.  

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) said “coal plants have struggled to effectively compete in competitive U.S. power markets against newer, more efficient natural-gas fired, combined-cycle power plants (CCPP).” 

The Homer City plant, serving parts of New York and Pennsylvania, dropped to 20% capacity last year. Operating the...