Coal Plant on Standby Pays the Price

A decades-old coal plant in the Pacific Northwest, idle since December, is being forced to stay on standby thanks to a Trump-era order — sparking a heated debate over who pays for it. TransAlta, the owner, demands tens of millions in reimbursements, arguing it’s following orders while eyeing a future switch to natural gas. Utilities and residents balk, calling it a waste amid soaring energy costs. Environmental groups and Washington state are challenging the order in court, claiming no emergency exists and it’s a bailout for coal. FERC is now weighing the request, with utilities, grid operators, and even the state attorney general in the mix — and the decision could reshape how standby energy mandates are handled nationwide. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/02856cd45b9f90bc