Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an emergency order requiring TransAlta Centralia Generation, LLC to keep Unit 2 of the Centralia Generating Station, a coal-fired plant in Centralia, Washington, operational beyond its scheduled closure at the end of 2025. This directive addresses urgent grid reliability challenges in the Northwestern United States, especially in the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) Northwest region.
The order, effective from September 13 through December 11, 2026, aims to ensure affordable, reliable, and secure electricity during periods of peak demand and extreme weather. According to the Department of Energy, keeping Centralia Unit 2 available will help reduce the risk of power outages that could threaten public health and safety.
Secretary Wright stated that preserving reliable power generation aligns with the administration’s focus on increasing energy resources rather than reducing them. Previous efforts under President Trump’s administration reportedly prevented the early retirement of over 17 gigawatts of coal-generated electricity capacity nationwide in 2025.
The DOE's Resource Adequacy Report notes that early retirements of dependable generation sources elevate blackout risks, supporting the rationale for extending Centralia Unit 2’s operation.