American Electric Power has announced it will close its coal-fired 1,590-megawatt Conesville power plant in Ohio by May 2020, Kallanish Energy reports.

The company had planned to close Units 5 and 6 in 2022, but has moved that closing up to May 2019.

Unit 4 will remain operational through May 2020 when the Conesville plant, in Coshocton, Ohio, would be permanently closed.

The company told the Coshocton Tribune newspaper the decision to shutter Conesville was based on costs to keep the plant operating and the outcomes of recent competitive generation auctions.

The plant did not clear the PJM Energy Market capacity auction for 2021-2022 and only partially cleared the auction for 2020-2021.

The auctions are for the sale and purchase of energy to meet consumer needs by energy providers.

The newspaper reported company officials said AEP had tried for several years to sell the Conesville facility, but was unable to attract a buyer.

AEP has been exiting the competitive generation business in Ohio and intends to focus on regulated businesses and investment in infrastructure and energy innovations, officials said.

Conesville originally opened in 1957, and has about 165 workers.