U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and the Department of Energy (DOE) issued an emergency order directing TransAlta to keep Unit 2 of the Centralia Generating Station in Centralia, Wash., available to operate. Unit 2 of the coal plant was scheduled to shut down at the end of 2025, with TransAlta planning to convert the plant to natural gas-fired generation, but the extension mandates that Centralia Unit 2 remain available for operation for 90 days, until March 16, 2026.
Fuel for the Centralia plant is delivered by train from the Powder River Basin in the U.S. Midwest. The company says that the plant’s coal unloading facility is considered one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly in North America. TransAlta closed Unit 1 of its Centralia plant in December 2020, decreasing the facility’s capacity to 670 MW.
The DOE dictated that the supply of power from the Centralia coal plant is essential for grid stability in the Northwest, and the emergency order prioritizes minimizing the risk and costs of blackouts. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) determined in its 2025-2026 Winter Reliability Assessment that the WECC Northwest region is at elevated risk during periods of extreme weather, such as prolonged, far-reaching cold snaps.
“Americans deserve access to affordable, reliable and secure energy to heat their homes all the time, regardless of whether the wind is blowing or the sun is shining,” said Wright.
TransAlta said that it is currently evaluating the order and will work with the state and federal governments to ensure follow-through.
Source: www.coalage.com
