New York redevelopment company acquires retired Pennsylvania Energy Harbor coal plant

The Frontier Group of Companies (FGC), a North American real estate and brownfield redevelopment company, announced Wednesday it had acquired two retired Energy Harbor coal-fired plants, including one in Shippingport, Pa.

The other plant is located in Ashtabula, Ohio. Terms for the acquisition deals were not disclosed.

As the new property owners, FGC said it plans to decommission the plants and remediate environmental concerns at the sites.

“While working with Energy Harbor over the past six months, our excitement has grown regarding the repurposing opportunities we foresee for these sites,” David Franjoine, CEO, Frontier Group of Companies, said. “Clearing and cleaning these sites and putting the properties back into their respective real estate markets will sustain the economic renaissance of these regions for years to come.”

The larger site, the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant in Shippingport, was last operated as a coal plant in Pennsylvania by First Energy. Located just 35 miles northwest of Pittsburgh and 17 miles from the Pittsburgh International Airport, the 2,490-megawatt former power plant is situated along the Ohio River and is served by CSX Railroad.

FGC said that it will be conducting land use studies and market analyses, as well as meeting with community leaders to determine the best use for the locations. The company said both sites are excellent prospective sites for various economic development purposes, including petrochemical, steel, energy, digital currency, and transportation logistics-related companies.

“We consider these former power plants to be a tremendous opportunity for new development and an opportunity to bring back jobs that were lost,” Pat Ford, FGC business development director, said. “Our plan to repurpose and ready these strategically-located mega-sites is the first step toward returning these properties to economically productive uses.”