Coal plant forced to stay open due to emergency order isn’t even running

Trump Administration Extends Lifeline for Washington Coal Plant Amid Energy Emergency

In a move that underscores the tension between economic realities and political agendas, the Trump administration has once again intervened to keep a coal-fired power plant in Washington state running, despite the plant’s scheduled closure and the region’s minimal reliance on coal energy.

The TransAlta Centralia Coal Plant, located in Centralia, Washington, was originally slated to shut down last year as part of a transition to cleaner natural gas generation. However, under the authority granted by the Federal Power Act and a sweeping executive order declaring a national energy emergency, the Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a series of orders keeping the plant operational.

Initially, an emergency order kept the plant running through the winter months. That order was set to expire on March 31, 2025, but in a surprise move, the DOE issued a new directive extending the plant’s operation through mid-June 2025. The department justified the decision in a press release, stating it was necessary “to ensure Americans in the Northwestern region of the United States have access to affordable, reliable, and secure electricity.”

Yet, a closer look at the data tells a different story. The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) analyzed electricity generation statistics from the area served by the Centralia plant, using data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Their findings reveal that coal contributed a mere 8 megawatt-hours to the grid in January and February 2025—an amount so small it could be matched by the solar panels on a single residential rooftop in about eight months.

This minuscule contribution suggests that the plant is not currently a critical piece of the region’s energy infrastructure. Instead, it appears to be maintained primarily as a backup capacity, ready to be called upon only in extreme circumstances. The Northwest Power and Conservation Council has previously stated that the region’s grid is well-equipped to handle the loss of the Centralia plant, thanks to a robust mix of renewables, natural gas, and energy efficiency measures.

The Trump administration’s actions are part of a broader strategy to prop up the coal industry, which has been in steep decline across the United States due to the rise of cheaper natural gas and renewable energy sources. Since taking office, President Trump has issued multiple executive orders aimed at revitalizing coal, including directives to keep certain plants open and to roll back environmental regulations.

Critics argue that these interventions are more about political symbolism and rewarding industry allies than about genuine energy security. Environmental groups and energy analysts point out that maintaining uneconomical coal plants not only undermines market dynamics but also delays the transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources.

The Centralia plant’s fate remains uncertain beyond June. While the current order keeps it running for now, the long-term viability of coal in the region—and nationwide—appears increasingly precarious. As the costs of renewables continue to fall and the urgency of addressing climate change grows, the economic and environmental case for coal power grows ever weaker.

For now, the TransAlta Centralia Coal Plant stands as a symbol of the ongoing tug-of-war between legacy energy industries and the future of American power generation—a battle being waged not just in boardrooms and legislatures, but on the very grids that keep the lights on across the country.

Tags: Trump administration, coal power, energy emergency, Department of Energy, Federal Power Act, TransAlta Centralia Coal Plant, renewable energy, natural gas, Environmental Defense Fund, energy security, grid reliability, executive order, Washington state, energy transition, coal industry decline

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