The Department of Energy claimed “emergency” conditions in the Pacific Northwest required TransAlta to continue running Washington [State’s] last coal plant past its planned retirement.
The Department of Energy claimed “emergency” conditions in the Pacific Northwest required TransAlta to continue running Washington [State’s] last coal plant past its planned retirement.
This is likely one case where capitalist polluters and leftist environmentalists are on the same side. Neither wants to see this plant in operation.
Coal is an expensive way to generate electricity in the USA. Its a PITA to get the coal and deal with the tailings. Further with the death of coal power being obvious for decades, plant operators have put off maintenance again and again knowing that the plants closing is forthcoming. The forced demand from the government would require at least some of that expensive maintenance done to keep operating. Plant operators don’t want to spend that money for something that is going to be closed as soon in the years ahead as trump isn’t in the picture anymore.