Trump Administration Relies on Emergency Powers to Preserve Coal Power Plants

The Trump administration plans to use its emergency powers to delay the shutdown of coal power plants. According to well-informed sources, the Department of Energy has already issued emergency orders to prevent the decommissioning of two fossil fuel plants and intends to continue this process with other facilities. The affected plants, including a coal power plant in Michigan by Consumers Energy and an oil and gas power plant in Pennsylvania by Constellation Energy, are to continue operating for the time being. Such emergency orders are typically intended for natural disasters or wartime. However, the government justifies this measure by stating that the closure of functional coal power plants would both increase electricity prices and hinder the revival of the U.S. industry. According to the Energy Administration Information, about 8.1 gigawatts of coal-fired energy are slated for decommissioning by 2025, representing approximately five percent of the total capacity in the U.S. At the same time, the government prioritizes the use of coal in its energy mix and views the closure of fossil power plants as a threat to the power supply amid growing demand from artificial intelligence. Further measures include halting wind projects and implementing policies that disadvantage solar energy and other renewable energy sources. These steps are criticized by regulatory authorities and environmental activists, who argue that there is no emergency and such orders would increase electricity costs for consumers. Neither the Department of Energy nor the White House were immediately available to comment on the allegations.