Trump’s Energy Department coal plant order in Washington sparks state officials’ outrage
CENTRALIA, Wash. — In a controversial move, the U.S. Department of Energy under President Donald Trump has issued an emergency order directing TransAlta to continue operating its coal plant in Centralia, despite a state law mandating the cessation of coal power generation by the end of this year.
This decision has sparked criticism from Washington state officials, who argue that the order undermines years of planning and negotiation aimed at transitioning to cleaner energy sources.
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The emergency order, issued under section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, requires TransAlta to keep Unit 2 of the Centralia Generating Station operational from Dec. 16, 2025, to March 16, 2026.
This directive comes as part of a broader federal effort to extend the operational life of coal plants across the country, including recent orders affecting facilities in Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown, and Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller have condemned the order, accusing U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright of exploiting “emergency powers” to prolong the use of coal in the state. In a joint statement, they said, “Under the guise of ‘emergency powers,’ U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright is attempting to force Washington state’s dirtiest power plant to continue burning coal. Let’s be clear: there’s no emergency here.”
The officials emphasized that the TransAlta plant was on the verge of completing its shutdown, a process that began in 2011 as part of an agreement between the state, TransAlta, and climate advocates. They noted that workers have already moved on and that there is no coal left to burn. The statement further criticized the Trump administration’s rationale, asserting that it creates uncertainty in Washington’s power market and could lead to increased costs and pollution.
The state’s Clean Energy Transformation Act requires all utilities to stop using coal-fired electricity after this year, aiming for greenhouse gas neutrality by 2030 and emission-free electricity by 2045. Despite these goals, the federal order insists on maintaining coal operations, citing energy security concerns.
TransAlta had previously announced plans to partner with Puget Sound Energy to convert the Centralia facility to a natural gas plant, aligning with the state’s clean energy objectives. However, the federal order now places these plans in jeopardy, raising questions about the future of Washington’s energy landscape.
TransAlta provided this statement in regard to the order:
TransAlta Corporation’s subsidiary, TransAlta Centralia Generation LLC, has received an order (the Order) from the United States Department of Energy. The Order mandates that Centralia Unit 2 in Washington State, remain available for operation for a period of 90 days, until March 16, 2026.
TransAlta is currently evaluating the Order and will work with the state and federal governments in relation thereto. The coal-to-gas conversion project, announced on December 9, 2025, remains a priority for TransAlta.
Further information regarding the Order will be provided as it becomes available in due course.
