The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Mar. 16 that Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has issued an emergency order requiring TransAlta to keep Unit 2 of the Centralia Generating Station in Washington available for operation, despite its planned closure at the end of 2025. The decision aims to ensure affordable, reliable, and secure electricity for residents in the Northwestern United States and reduce the risk of blackouts.
The move is intended to address concerns about grid stability and prevent potential power shortages as energy sources transition nationwide. According to the Department of Energy’s Resource Adequacy Report, blackouts could increase significantly by 2030 if reliable power sources are removed from service as they were during previous administrations.
“The last administration’s energy subtraction policies had the United States on track to likely experience significantly more blackouts in the coming years — thankfully, President Trump won’t let that happen,” said 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 power their homes all the time, regardless of whether the wind is blowing or the sun is shining.”
This order follows a previous emergency directive issued by Wright on December 16, 2025, also aimed at keeping Unit 2 (729.9 MW) operational. The current order will be effective from March 17 through June 14, 2026.
Meanwhile, other federal initiatives have focused on clean energy and infrastructure improvements. For example, the Department of Energy announced a $225 million program funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support implementation of updated building energy codes. In addition, former Secretary Jennifer Granholm encouraged international cooperation on clean energy transitions at a global forum in Pittsburgh.
Efforts are also underway within DOE’s Office of Environmental Management; officials highlighted technology development and national laboratory involvement in environmental cleanup missions before Congress. At Savannah River Site (SRS), an innovative passive process using crushed marble is being used to treat groundwater at a former coal-fired plant.
Further investments include $96 million dedicated to decarbonizing transportation through expanded electric vehicle charging infrastructure and cleaner engines. Additionally, 146 programs have been launched under President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct clean energy investments toward disadvantaged communities.
As federal policy continues evolving between administrations with different priorities for fossil fuels and renewable resources, observers expect ongoing debate over how best to balance reliability with environmental goals.
