Energy Secretary Keeps Coal-Fired Power Generation Alive in the Northwest

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 facing the Northwestern region of the United States. The emergency order directs TransAlta Centralia Generation LLC (TransAlta) to ensure that Unit 2 of the Centralia Generating Station in Centralia, Washington, a coal-fired power plant, remains available to operate. Centralia Unit 2 was scheduled to shut down at the end of 2025. The order minimizes the risk and cost of unnecessary blackouts.

"Taking reliable generation off the grid compromises energy reliability and needlessly raises energy costs for Americans," said Energy Secretary Wright. "During peak summer demand, Northwesterners deserve continued access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy to power and cool their homes."

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-power electricity generation were saved from going offline.

As outlined in DOE's Resource Adequacy Report, power outages could increase by 100 times by 2030 if the U.S. continues to take reliable power offline.

The availability of Centralia to operate will continue to be an asset to maintain reliability in the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) Northwest region.

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation's (NERC) 2025 Long-Term Reliability Assessment assessed that the WECC Northwest region is at high risk of energy shortfalls over the next five years, noting that "rapid forecasted demand growth is driving the need for more resources" and that "periods of unserved energy are projected for both summer and winter."

This order is in effect beginning on June 15, 2026, through September 12, 2026.

Background:

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's data, in 2025, Centralia generated an average of approximately 340,000 MWh per month, providing vital generation capacity to the region. 

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