US Emergency Order Keeps Washington Coal Plant Operating

The US government has ordered a Washington state coal plant to continue operating past its scheduled retirement date, marking the third time the Trump administration has invoked emergency authorities to keep a power plant running.

The Energy Department’s order mandates that TransAlta Corp. keep the last remaining unit at its Centralia Generating Station in Centralia, Washington, operational past its planned retirement date at the end of this year. The agency cited an assessment by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation that concluded the region is at risk of power shortages during prolonged cold snaps.