It appears that FERC's earlier rejection wasn't because the plant was coal-powered but because the application was based on a narrowly-tailored RFP for generating capacity that only the Pleasants plant could meet, thereby by justifying a sweetheart-deal between the subsidiaries.
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/business/ferc-denies-pleasants-power-station-transfer/article_d5139806-9584-55e9-b6fd-755af0d0a951.htmlThat First Energy waited to announce the closure until the WVPSC required the proposed deal be altered to get approval suggests that if the WVPSC had approved it, then First Energy would have tried submitting a revised RFP to the FERC.
In any case, the rejection by both agencies wasn't because of coal, at least not directly, but because the deal had some financial shenanigans that would have hurt consumers.
