TransAlta coal-fired plant to run 90 days longer than planned after U.S. orders

TransAlta wind turbines are shown at a wind farm near Pincher Creek, Alta., Wednesday, March 9, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

TransAlta Corp. says the U.S. Department of Energy has ordered it to keep a coal plant in Washington State online for three months longer than planned.

Coal-fired generation had been set to wind down at the Centralia Unit 2 facility by the end of this year before the plant was to be retooled to run on cleaner-burning natural gas.

Calgary-based TransAlta says it’s evaluating the order that the unit remain available for operation until March 16 and it will work with state and federal governments.

The utility announced earlier this month that it had signed an agreement to deliver 700 megawatts of gas-fired electricity to Puget Sound Energy Inc. through the end of 2044.

It said the switch from coal to natural gas would cut Centralia’s emissions intensity by half.

The conversion is expected to cost US$600 million with an in-service date of late 2028.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2025.