U.S. Department of Energy
09/01/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/02/2026 02:29
Energy Secretary Saves Coal-Fired Generation from Going Offline in Florida
Energy Secretary Saves Coal-Fired Generation from Going Offline in Florida
Emergency order addresses grid reliability concerns and reduces the risk and costs of blackouts.
September 1, 2026
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WASHINGTON-U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright today issued an emergency order to keep affordable, reliable, and secure coal generation online and address critical grid reliability issues in Florida. The emergency order directs the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) to ensure that Unit 1 at the Stanton Energy Center (Stanton) in Orlando, Florida, a coal-fired power plant remains available to operate. Unit 1 was slated to enter a premature extended cold shutdown in June 2026.
"Taking reliable generation offline compromises energy reliability and needlessly raises energy costs for Americans," Secretary Wright said. "The Trump Administration will continue to ensure that Floridians have access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy to power their homes."
As outlined in DOE's Resource Adequacy Report, power outages could increase by 100 times in 2030 if the U.S. continues to take reliable power offline.
Thanks to President Trump's leadership, coal plants across the country are being saved from premature retirement and reversing plans to shut down. In 2025, more than 17 gigawatts of coal-powered electricity generation were saved from going offline.
This order is in effect beginning on September 2, 2026, through November 30, 2026.
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