US Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued an emergency order requiring TransAlta to keep Unit 2 of the Centralia coal-fired power plant in Washington available to operate through the winter to help ensure reliable electricity in the Northwest. The plant, previously scheduled to shut down at the end of 2025, is considered critical for grid stability during extreme cold-weather events. The order, effective from December 16, 2025, through March 16, 2026, aims to reduce the risk and cost of blackouts as the region faces elevated reliability risks this winter. The DOE writes:
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright today issued an emergency order to ensure Americans in the Northwestern region of the United States have access to affordable, reliable and secure electricity heading into the cold winter months. The order directs TransAlta to keep Unit 2 of the Centralia Generating Station in Centralia, Washington available to operate. Unit 2 of the coal plant was scheduled to shut down at the end of 2025. The reliable supply of power from the Centralia coal plant is essential for grid stability in the Northwest. The order prioritizes minimizing the risk and costs of blackouts.
“The last administration’s energy subtraction policies had the United States on track to experience significantly more blackouts in the coming years — thankfully, President Trump won’t let that happen,” said Energy Secretary Wright. “The Trump administration will continue taking action to keep America’s coal plants running so we can stop the price spikes and ensure we don’t lose critical generation sources. 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.”
According to DOE’s Resource Adequacy Report, blackouts were on track to potentially increase 100 times by 2030 if the U.S. continued to take reliable power offline as it did during the Biden administration.
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.
This order is in effect beginning on December 16, 2025, and continuing until March 16, 2026.
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