SEATTLE—Washington state’s last coal-fired power plant was scheduled to close by year-end, transitioning to natural gas to reduce carbon emissions by 50%.
This closure, mandated by state law, required the plant’s owner, Canadian energy company TransAlta, to retrain workers and support local economic transition.
However, this coal phase-out was halted by the Trump administration. The Department of Energy declared an “emergency” in the Pacific Northwest, citing an electricity shortage. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that the Centralia plant in southwest Washington must continue burning coal for at least 90 more days.
“Issuance of this order will meet the emergency and serve the public interest,” said Wright, referencing a similar directive last summer that prevented a coal plant closure in Michigan.
Contrary to the federal claim, state officials and regional energy experts assert there is no imminent electricity shortage in Washington or the Pacific Northwest.
“There’s no emergency here,” read a joint statement from Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and other state officials. “The Trump administration has ignored the law and facts. The TransAlta plant is nearly shut down—a milestone underway since 2011. Workers have moved on. There’s no coal left to burn.”
The governor’s office and environmental groups are considering legal action against the Trump administration’s order. TransAlta stated it is “evaluating” the order but remains committed to converting the Centralia plant to natural gas.
Meanwhile, Washington state faces severe flooding due to record rainfall, leading to a federal emergency declaration by President Donald Trump. Thousands are displaced, and major highways require months of repairs.
“It’s ironic that during a real emergency, they fabricate an energy emergency,” said KC Golden of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, an interstate agency ensuring reliable power and environmental protection.
Although there is no immediate electricity shortfall, the Pacific Northwest, like much of the U.S., faces a long-term electricity supply issue.
Oregon, second only to Virginia in data center capacity, and Washington host about 100 data centers consuming 11% of Oregon’s power, according to the Sightline Institute. Rising energy use stems from the high-tech economy, electric vehicle demand, and growing air-conditioning needs. A recent report by energy consulting group E3 warns of a potential 9 gigawatt power shortfall by 2030.
“We are facing a true energy supply challenge,” said Golden, representing Washington on the Northwest power council.
The region, reliant on hydroelectric dams for 60% of its power, is affected by drought and changing weather, impacting the Columbia River’s reliability, North America’s largest hydroelectric resource. Grand Coulee Dam, the U.S.’s largest electricity producer, generated half the power last year compared to 2012, reports the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Power production hit a 22-year low in 2022-23, largely due to prolonged drought.
The Bonneville Power Administration, a federal agency overseeing electricity sales and high-voltage transmission, has been slow in connecting new wind and solar sources to the grid. A ProPublica investigation revealed only one large renewable project was approved out of 469 applications since 2015. Bonneville is now working to expedite the process, though Oregon and Washington lag in integrating large solar and wind projects.
“Building new transmission takes too long,” said Lauren McCloy, utility director of the NW Energy Coalition. “But we are addressing it.”
McCloy emphasized that the Pacific Northwest is committed to meeting clean energy goals without relying on the Centralia coal plant.
Washington state, aiming to phase out fossil fuels, mandates the closure of all coal plants this year. The law requires carbon-neutral power by 2030 and a fossil-free electricity supply by 2045. Increasing power demands and the slow integration of renewables challenge the state’s ability to enforce this law.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org