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Emergency Order Extends Life of Costly Coal Plant

3/19/2026

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Story summary
  • The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order to keep Washington's last coal plant operating for 90 days.
  • The order cites reliability concerns and notes Washington's hydropower has sufficed for electricity needs.
  • Critics say coal is financially costly and harms health, costing communities billions annually.
  • The Environmental Defense Fund reports the plant produced no electricity during this period, highlighting unnecessary costs to consumers.