The Department of Energy extended an order that will continue to keep Washington’s last remaining coal-fired plant open past its long-scheduled retirement at the end of 2025.

Washington’s attorney general and a coalition of public interest organizations filed separate lawsuits to overturn the Department of Energy’s order requiring TransAlta to continue operating the state’s last coal-fired plant beyond its scheduled retirement.

Washington’s attorney general and a coalition of environmental groups have mounted separate challenges to DOE's December decision to order TransAlta to continue operating the state’s last coal-fired plant for three months beyond its scheduled retirement.

Citing an energy “emergency” in the Northwest this winter, DOE ordered TransAlta to continue operating Washington’s last coal-fired generating plant for three months beyond its scheduled retirement at the end of this year.