U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has issued an emergency order to keep Unit 2 of the Centralia Generating Station, a coal plant in Centralia, Washington, available for operation through the winter months. The unit was originally scheduled to shut down at the end of 2025. This action aims to address concerns about grid reliability and prevent potential blackouts in the Northwestern United States as colder weather approaches.
The Department of Energy (DOE) stated that reliable power from the Centralia coal plant is important for maintaining grid stability in the region. The emergency order prioritizes reducing both the risk and costs associated with blackouts.
“The last administration’s energy subtraction policies had the United States on track to experience significantly more blackouts in the coming years — thankfully, President Trump won’t let that happen,” said Energy 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 heat their homes all the time, regardless of whether the wind is blowing or the sun is shining.”
According to a DOE Resource Adequacy Report, if reliable power continues to be taken offline as during previous years, blackouts could increase significantly by 2030.
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) highlighted in its 2025-2026 Winter Reliability Assessment that regions such as WECC Northwest face higher risks during extreme weather events like extended cold snaps.
The emergency order takes effect December 16, 2025, and will remain in place until March 16, 2026. NERC’s assessment also warns that widespread extreme winter conditions could lead to electricity supply shortages. Additionally, U.S. peak electricity demand has risen by 2.5% since last winter.
