11/29/2025
UPDATE 11/29/2025
Sammis Plant Demolition Progress
The W. H. Sammis Power Plant power plant in Stratton, Jefferson County, Ohio.
The plant was operated by Energy Harbor, and began operations in 1960. At its peak, it was one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the United States, with a generating capacity of approximately 2.23 gigawatts (2,233 megawatts), which it achieved through its seven generating units.
Ohio Edison broke ground for W.H. Sammis in May 1956. The plan originally called for the construction of two, 170 MW units. In September 1956, Ohio Edison announced they would double the facility with two additional units also at 170 MW each. The first four units of Sammis were finished between 1960 and 1962 at cost of $118 million. It was dedicated in 1960 for Ohio Edison president and CEO, Walter H. Sammis.
Unit 5 was completed in 1967.
Unit 6 began operations in 1969 at a cost of $75 million. The unit had an operating capacity of 625 MW.
During construction of Unit 6, its stator, constructed by Westinghouse, was featured on the cover in a March 1967 issue of Forbes.
Unit 7, with an operating capacity of 650 MW, began operations in 1971. Unit 7's chimney had a height of approximately 1,001 feet (305 m).
The power plant includes a four-lane tunnel for State Route 7, constructed in 1982 at a cost of $27 million. The road goes under the "baghouse" structure.
FirstEnergy assumed operations of Sammis after the former operator, Ohio Edison merged with Centerior in 1997.
Due to low wholesale power prices in 2012 exacerbated by the supply of natural gas, FirstEnergy temporarily idled the Sammis Plant.
FirstEnergy announced in July 2016 that it would retire its four oldest units at Sammis in 2020 due to increasing costs and market forces. Only 1,500 MW would be produced from the three units to remain generating electricity.
FirstEnergy Solutions had announced in August 2018 that they would shut down the three remaining units at Sammis by June 2022. FirstEnergy Solutions blamed the wholesale market system, for not relying on coal and nuclear plants.
Murray Energy, a supplier of coal for Sammis, floated the possibility of buying the plant and to continue operating it.
Ultimately, the retirements of the final three units were rescinded in July 2019 when the State of Ohio passed and signed into law a subsidy to support FirstEnergy Solutions' Perry Nuclear Generating Station and Davis–Besse Nuclear Power Station.
However, the bill itself was a part of a public corruption scheme revealed by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) in July 2020.
Energy Harbor announced in March 2022 that it would close Units 5, 6, and 7 by June 2023. The plants then officially closed a month earlier than expected on May 3, 2023.
As of this post 11/29/2025--The Sammis Plant is still in the process of being demolished. It is expected to be completed in 2026, and potentially opened up for redevelopment.
